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NCSW expresses concern on CII recommendations
ISLAMABAD: Chairperson National Commission for Status of Women (NCSW) Khawar Mumtaz expressed grave concerns over the recent recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) that the laws related to minimum age of marriage were un-Islamic and that children of any age could get married if they attain puberty; and that permission of first wife for second marriage by the husband is against the tenets of Islam In a statement issued to the press NCSW chairperson pointed out that the Muslim Family
Laws Ordinance, 1961 was promulgated after serious and in-depth deliberations by an eminent committee representing all schools of Islamic thought. The committee reviewed personal status laws of other Muslim countries in the light of contemporary conditions and challenges and then made its recommendations in keeping with the spirit of justice and fairness. Khawar called upon CII to give attention to curbing practices like vani, swara and karo kari and ensure that women get their due constitutional rights instead of unnecessarily re-opening settled matters. She drew CII’s attention to the fact that marriages in Islam are contracts between two consenting adults and any recommendation that violates that basic principle is not acceptable.
Furthermore it has been medically established that early age marriages have far reaching damaging consequences for the health of young girls and their children and therefore must be avoided at all cost. She added that CII’s opinion is also in contradiction of Pakistan’s international commitments. Khawar recalled that Pakistan is signatory of CEDAW that provides for the prohibition of Child Marriage in Article 16.3.”The Convention contains a provision calling for the abolishment of practices prejudicial to the health and future of children,” she said adding, “Child marriage is connected to children’s rights, such as the right to protection from all forms of abuse, and the right to be protected from harmful practices.” More pressing in Pakistan is the forcible marriage of girls to resolve family feuds which is a gross violation of human rights and CII should focus its attention on this subject,” she said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk