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The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 1st April, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad
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WPC Express Concern on the Rulings of Council of Islamic Ideology

Wednesday, 19th March, 2014

Islamabad; March 19, 2014: Members of Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) expressed severe concern on the rulings of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) declared in the last week. The recommendations of CII are quite alarming.

The Chairman of CII demanded amendment in the National Marriage Law so that men seeking to remarry did not require a written permission of their first wives. Secondly, the legislation which prohibited underage marriages was dubbed as un-Islamic by the CII.It should be noted that the law is completely in line with the Muslim Family Law and the Constitution of Pakistan.

In the present scenario, it can be witnessed that instances of domestic violence are on the rise, women are forced to self-immolate, rape cases and acid crimes have increased significantly and the child abuse has reachedalarming heights, decrees of such controversial nature by CII do no good but aggravate the situation.

Marriage is a mutual contract; adolescents at an early age cannot discreetly decide about their marriage, therefore puberty should not be a condition for marriage. Abolishing laws which ensure minimum age for marriage would mean exploitation and abuse particularly for young girls.

Members of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus believe that both these verdicts are a blatant violation of women rights, international commitments and the Constitution of Pakistan.

Inclusion of progressive Islamic scholars in the CII is important so that it interprets laws in line with the 21st century for protection of women right and of whole nation at large.

Parliament of Pakistan is the supreme institution. Women legislators from the platform of Caucus reaffirm their commitment to stand firm against all anti-women practicesand determine to leave no stone unturned to ensure that no any anti-women legislation is passed in the parliament which deprives them of their basic rights.