ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has asked the leadership of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) to comment on the reported marriage of a Member of the National Assembly from Balochistan Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi with a 13-year-old girl from Chitral.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Chaudhry on Friday the minister said the reported marriage of a JUI-F lawmaker Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi with a young girl, whose age he stated as 13, was a violation of the Child Marriage Restraint Act.
Fawad Chaudhry further said the very disturbing news of the underage girl’s marriage had been reported in Indian media today.
The government wasn’t investigating the matter but the JUI-F leadership “should only come and deny the incident before the house because Pakistan’s parliament and we are being ridiculed over this across the world,” he added.
The minister said, “My heart is saddened that how we can permit such an act and expose our children like this.” Later, on a social media post, Chaudhry said he had raised issue of underage marriage by a JUI lawmaker.
“I hope all sane voices in NA will take notice of this absurd act by a member of National Assembly and will join voice to seek explanation,” he tweeted.
Today I raised issue of under age marriage by a JUI MNA, I hope all sane voices in NA will take notice of this absurd act by a member of National Assembly and will join voice to seek explanation pic.twitter.com/UvllnBD4Iv
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 26, 2021
Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bokhari of the PTI endorsed Chaudhry’s comments on “this illegal act & criminal offense by JUI-F MNA who has violated the Child Marriage Restraint Act by marrying a 13-year-old child”.
Bokhari said, “There was a deafening silence on the issue from the so-called champions of democracy who stand by JUI-F head Fazlur Rehman!”
I endorse @fawadchaudhry call for notice & action on this illegal act & criminal offence by JUI F MNA who has violated the Child Marriage Restraint Act by marrying a 13 year old child. Deafening silence by so called champs of democ who stand by, JUIF head Fazlur Rehman! https://t.co/lzlLdDL9Oo
— Maleeka Ali Bokhari (@MalBokhari) February 26, 2021
Earlier this month, news of the marriage of a 13-year-old girl with a man about four times her age had want viral on social media.
The bridegroom was named as JUI-F’s Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, who had won the NA-263 Qilla Abdullah seat in the 2018 general elections on a ticket of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Dawn reported.
According to sources, the girl belongs to the Daroosh area of Chitral and was currently out of the district. As per the school record, the girl was born in Sept 2005 and is only 13-year old sources added. The girl’s nikkah was solemnized out of Chitral and the matter was still under investigation police revealed.
On the other hand, a few days back, the police had reached the girl’s home. However, the Lower Chitral DPO Sonia Shimroz Khan said that the girl’s father had denied the girl’s marriage. He had agreed in writing that he would ask the local police before a proper marriage ceremony.
Meanwhile, Tahafuz-e-Haqooq-e-Chitral Chairman Pir Mukhtar Nabi said that they were consulting lawyers on this matter and announced to file a writ petition before the court of competent jurisdiction against the MNA.
In an application, Anjuman Dawat-o-Azeemat has contended that the news of the underage girl’s marriage with an elderly person had gone viral on social media, angering people.
The police have been requested to conduct an inquiry into whether the girl had attained the marriageable age, and if not, take action against all those responsible under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act.
