ISLAMABAD: The much-debated Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 has finally been tabled in Pakistan's National Assembly after years of delay. The report of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the Bill was presented and is just one step away from being approved with Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party in support.
One of the bill movers, Ramesh Lal, member of the National Assembly, said it took around 10 months for the committee to clear the bill and another six months for the report to be presented in the house. "The delay was possibly because of extraordinary debates and discussion around the bill, but at least now the government should consider tabling it in the house in the next session," he said. Chairman of the Committee, Chaudhary Bashir Virk said, "All segments, including the Council of Islamic Ideology, were consulted during the course of discussions in the committee."
The Hindu Marriage Bill is expected to put an end to the practice of abduction of married Hindu women. Virk said, "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." The draft bill allows separated individuals to remarry. Clause 17 states 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.
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.
