The Sindh Assembly made history by approving the Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 on Monday.
This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that marriage laws for millions of Hindus have been codified. The bill was moved in the provincial assembly by Senior PPP leader and Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmad Khuhro. It was passed after debate between the opposition and treasury bench.
According to the the approved draft, married couples will be legally required to obtain marriage registration certificates and can face fines upon lack of registration. The bride and groom cannot be less than 18 years of age. The registration of marriages of Zoroastrians and Sikhs has also been included in the law.
Previously lacking a legal mechanism to register marriages, Hindus had faced great difficulty in providing legal proof when required. Women, in particular widows, were especially disadvantaged when it came to getting government documents issued or getting any progress done on processes like opening bank accounts or applying for visas. The 18th Amendment had made religious minorities and their family matters provincial subjects but the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies went on to pass resolutions allowing the federation to legislate Hindu marriage law. Similarly, the Punjab Assembly has yet to decide on a pending resolution on the matter.
its not a worthwhile legislation to be comment upon
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