KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly today (Tuesday) rejected a private bill seeking to make it compulsory for parents to marry off their children after they turn 18 or face Rs500 fine for violating the proposed law.
Taking to Twitter, Member of Sindh Assembly Sharmila Faruqi said, “The Sindh compulsory marriages Act 2021 which made marriage compulsory at 18 years tabled by MPA Abdul Rasheed was unanimously rejected by the Sindh Assembly today.”
The Sindh compulsory marriages Act 2021 which made marriage compulsory at 18 years tabled by mpa abdul rasheed was unanimously rejected by the sindh assembly today.
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) June 8, 2021
The private bill was moved by the lone member of opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in the Sindh Assembly, Syed Abdul Rasheed, in which he said that the bill was in accordance with the teachings of Islam, which called for marriage after attaining adulthood.
“The government should introduce laws and make efforts to ensure austerity in marriage functions,” he added, hoping that his proposed law would be helpful in supporting the youth and curbing immoral activities in society.
The proposed bill makes it compulsory every person turning 18 to marry. The law would also make it binding upon the parents to submit an affidavit in the office of the deputy commissioner, explaining why they are unable to marry off their children at the age of 18 years.
Sindh govt distanced itself
After the bill was introduced in the provincial assembly, the Sindh government distanced itself from the bill.
Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the bill was introduced by Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) lawmaker Abdur Rasheed for “making marriage compulsory for all adults”. “This bill has nothing to do with Sindh government and will be rejected by PPP members,” said Wahab.
