The discussion on child marriage had been going on for around two weeks. PPP Senator Sehar Kamran had pushed for a bill reconsidering the minimum age for marriage for young girls. She wanted the minimum age to be raised from 16 to 18.

Earlier, the Senate Standing Committee had rejected the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2017 because a majority of the senators termed it un-Islamic.

However, Senator Rehman Malik faced a lot of backlash from his own party. As he was the Committee Chairman, he was forced to reconsider the bill.

@SenRehmanMalik decides "The Child Marriage Restraint (Amd) Bill, 2017" shall be reconsidered & placed before committee for discussion. pic.twitter.com/ExYQf2KNbx

— SenRehmanMalik's Off (@RMOffice_) October 12, 2017

This time around all bases were covered and these three main points were put forward:

Number one: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CCI) was asked to refrain from giving vague statements about the matter. The Council cannot have two official stances regarding the matter.

Number two: It was advised to not mingle religion in such a matter because as a state policy, we do not consider a 16 years old an adult.

Number three: The voting took place with all the relevant people involved, including Sehar Kamran who was missing last time. And only senators who were a part of the committee were allowed to have a say on the matter.

This resulted in the Senate Standing Committee accepting the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2017

It has approved the idea of increasing the minimum age for marriage of young girls from 16 to 18.

People on Twitter are quite pleased with the decision of the committee

Child Marriage Restraint Bill has been approved by Senate Standing Committee. Congratulations – we have moved one step closer to our target. https://t.co/KhlFCp3VM6

— PAK-NGOs (@PAK_NGOs) October 23, 2017

Senate committee approves Child Marriage Restraint Bill – Important positive proposal putting mariage limit to 18 y https://t.co/cktbDH97z6

— JeanFrançois Cautain (@JFCautainEU) October 24, 2017

Thank you Chairman #PPP @BBhuttoZardari for extending support to bill on Child Marriage Restraint..

— Nurses Zone (@Nurseszone) October 25, 2017

However, the bill is yet to be adopted by the Parliament. This is where the proponents will face a real challenge. It has already been discarded by the Senate Committee earlier. That in itself is a proof of how it might be portrayed as un-Islamic.

Child marriage has a lot of health and safety concerns. And they cannot be ignored. The abuse which is rampant on the premise of early marriage needs to be eradicated.

Cover image via: sachtimes.com