Pakistan National Assembly Finally Tables Hindu Marriage Bill

The Bill had been approved by the Standing Committee on Law and Justice on 8 February.

The Hindu Marriage Bill in Pakistan has been delayed for decades and was finally tabled on Thursday. Image used for representation. (Photo: iStock)

After decades of delay and inaction, the much-debated Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 which seeks to give a legal framework to the marriages in the minority community in Pakistan, has finally been tabled in Pakistan’s National Assembly.

Support of Ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

The report of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the bill was presented on Thursday and the bill is just one step away from being approved as it has the support of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Ramesh Lal, one of the bill’s movers, said it took around 10 months for the committee to clear the bill and another six months for its report to be presented in the house.

The bill was approved by the standing committee on 8 February.

According to the chairman of the committee, Chaudhry Bashir Virk

All segments – including the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) – were consulted during the course of discussions in the committee.

Reservations Against the Bill

Some members of the Hindu community have expressed strong reservations regarding some of the bill’s contents including clause 12 on the ‘Termination of Hindu marriage’ and clause 15 on the ‘Termination of Hindu marriage by mutual consent’.

The draft bill allows separated individuals to remarry. Clause 17 states that a Hindu widow is entitled to remarry and shall have the right to do so, of her own will and consent, after a period of six months since the death of her husband.

Also Read: Why is Pakistan Afraid of Passing the Hindu Marriage Bill?

The End of Some Practices

The bill is expected to put an end to the practice of abduction of married Hindu women.

There are penalties for violating the provisions of this act and anyone who kidnaps a married Hindu woman will be liable to punishments after this law is approved, because the victim’s family will be able to show proof of marriage.

Chaudhry Bashir Virk, Chairman of Standing Committee

The bill is also expected to curtail forced conversions because it will allow the registration of Hindu marriages in the relevant government departments, the report said.

Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have consented to the federal government formulating a Hindu marriage law that they would then adopt, while Sindh had formulated its own Hindu marriage registration law.

(With inputs from PTI)