The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over the objection raised by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) regarding the recently approved bill against child marriage, stating that declaring a bill passed by Parliament as being in conflict with religion goes against children’s rights.
According to details, the HRCP said in a statement that the bill against child marriage is essential for the protection of children and that immediate implementation of the law is needed to prevent the exploitation of young girls’ rights.
The HRCP emphasized that the protection of children should not be turned into a religious controversy. To prevent child marriages and ensure the protection of children, it is necessary for the state to fulfill its constitutional and international obligations.
The Commission expressed strong reservations about the CII obstructing the bill and said that one-sided religious interpretations should not become a hindrance to legislation.
According to the statement, the HRCP said that ending child marriage is both a legal and moral necessity and that the promise of protecting children must be fulfilled.
It is noteworthy that earlier this month, the Senate passed a bill prohibiting child marriage in Islamabad. However, the Council of Islamic Ideology rejected the bill banning underage marriage.
According to the CII’s statement, provisions that define marriage under the age of 18 as rape and prescribe punishments, among others, were declared un-Islamic.
