With several consultative meetings, the ministry of Human Rights on Tuesday succeeded in convincing the country’s top bishops and pastors over the proposed Christian Marriage Amendment Bill 2016, which will be tabled in few weeks.
This was stated by Human Rights Minister Senator Kamran Michael while chairing a consultative meeting with bishops, pastors and other Christian leaders held in Lahore.
He said the ministry took the initiative to amend Christian Marriage Act 1872 and Christian Divorce Act 1869 as the laws were considered “outdated”, and were needed to revise.
He said, “There are so many things in the existing Christian Marriage Act 1872, needed to be revise and updated to stop the exploitation of people and protect the human rights, and we, considering it our prime responsibility, will have to play our role in this regard”.
He told the meeting that special steering committees were working on this cause, which have studied the existing laws and suggestions given by the christian leaders, these amendments would be finalised after last consultative meeting going to be held in Islamabad this month.
Michael said the government was committed to present and pass these amended bills during its tenure.
During the meeting, Pastor Shahid Meraj, Bishop Irfan Jameel, Sarfaraz Mughal and others raised important point with ministry about the lacuna regarding the registration of marriages and other marriage related issues.
On this, the minister sought more suggestions from the participants for drafting the law.
