National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice would again take up the 'Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2019' today (Wednesday) and seek the input from the Ministry of Human Rights after deferring debate on the bill in Tuesday's meeting. The committee meeting on Tuesday was presided over by the panel's Chairman Riaz Fatyana from the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). During the meeting, the panel reviewed the 'Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2019,' moved by the committee member Ramesh Kumar Vankwani from the PTI as a private member bill.
In April this year, the Senate had passed the 'Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2018,' which seeks amendments in the 'Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929,' defining child as a person who is under 18 years of age and criminalising the underage weddings. Following its passage by the Upper House of the Parliament, the bill landed in the National Assembly in May where it was strongly opposed by the religious parties, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). The two religious parties have termed the fixing of a minimum age of marriage as an 'un-Islamic proposal.'
The proposed law increases simple imprisonment from one month or with fine up to Rs 1,000 to rigorous imprisonment up to three years but not less than two years while the fine will be up to Rs 200,000. It is currently pending with the NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice and would land in the NA for voting on the bill if passed by the committee.
During the committee's meeting on Tuesday, the members after detailed discussion agreed that input of the Human Rights Ministry is necessary regarding the bill and decided to summon a representative from the said ministry to brief the panel on the matter from the perspective of human rights (in connection with the bill). Riaz Fatyana directed that a representative of the Ministry of Human Rights should appear in the panel's today (Wednesday) meeting to brief the committee.
Moreover, the committee passed the 'Legal Practitioner and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill 2018,' moved by Aliya Kamran from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), after detailed deliberations. The committee also considered the 'Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019,' which seeks certain amendments in the Articles 1, 51, 59, 106, 175A and 218, moved by Ali Khan Jadoon from the PTI. The committee recommended that due to non-availability of the mover, the bill be deferred till next meeting (today).
The panel also considered the 'Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019,' that seeks certain amendments in Articles 51, 59, 106, 154, 175A and 218, moved by Murtaza Javed Abbasi from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Following a lengthy debate, the committee deferred the bill till today's meeting.
Also, the NA committee rejected the 'Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019,' which seeks certain amendments in Articles 51, 76 and 106, moved by Kishwer Zehra from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Furthermore, the NA panel reviewed the 'Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 201,' seeking certain amendments in the Articles 51 and 106, moved by Dr Darshan from the PML-N, and declared that similar bills have already been referred to the relevant sub-committee, hence, the bill is also referred to the sub-committee for its recommendations.
Apart from the committee members, the senior officers from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) attended the meeting.