PML-N may table ‘Hindu Marriage Bill’ in NA
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to table ‘Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016′ in the coming session, likely in the first week of next month, for providing legal cover to the marriages of Hindu community. The legislation will provide a legal framework to the marriages in the minority community including matters relating to the registration of marriages, divorce and forced conversions etc.
It will provide a special form of marriage and divorce among Hindu. This law would be applicable on every person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms. Minister for Human Rights Kamran Michael is likely to table the Bill in the next session of the House. The Minister had tried to move the Bill on September 9, but due to absence of a few minority lawmakers in the House the matter was deferred to the next session.
The draft law was originally moved by two minority lawmakers – Ramesh Lal of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and Asiya Nasir of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The draft bill was later supported by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party which is headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Balochistan have consented to the federal government in formulating a Hindu marriage law that they would then adopt, while Sindh had formulated its own Hindu marriage registration law. According to the sources, ‘The Companies (Appointment of Legal Advisors) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Compulsory Blood Test for Relatives of Thalassemia Patients (Amendment) Bill, 2014, The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2014,The National Commission for Minority Education Bill, 2015’ and others would also be tabled in the Lower House of the Parliament for passage.
The issue of Panama Papers, Raiwind March and reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would also be taken up in the coming session. The sources said that the opposition parties are also considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Speaker; however, no final decision has been taken yet in this regard as they are weighing different options to increase pressure on the government regarding Panama Papers issue.
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