Women MPAs to continue efforts against child marriages 

Parliamentarians and government officials have reiterated the resolve to second the efforts to increase the minimum age of girls for marriage from 16 years to 18 years and make mandatory the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) at the time of marriage.

Speaking at NGO Bargad’s event Say No to Child Brides at Lahore Press Club lawmakers Sadia Sohail Rana, Sumaira Bukhari, Bushra Anjum Butt and Uzma Kardar alongside Bargad Executive Director Sabiha Shaheen also announced supporting amendments to the law for the purpose.

Bargad held the press conference as part of its ongoing campaign against child marriage. The organisation has already opted for spreading messages through rickshaw, social media and other quarters concerned.

MPA Sadia Sohail called early age marriage an evil and insisted that this must be ended at the earliest. She talked about health hazards and psychic problems when the girls did not have the capacity to own responsibility.

MPA Uzma Kardar said the ID card must be mandatory at the time of marriage. MPA Bushra Butt promised to pursue the relevant bills in the Punjab Assembly.

MPA Sumaira Bukhari said the women lawmakers are fully agreed to the legislative amendments to the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 should be approved as early as possible.  

Sabiha Shaheen said that Bargad has been pursuing the matter of drafting laws and relevant changes for the purpose since 2015 and will keep doing so.

At the event, results of an online petition initiated by a 14 years girl were also presented. A total of 22,815 persons endorsed the petition demanding the government to increase the minimum age of marriage for girls in Punjab from 16 to 18 years.