[DAWN] The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) concluded its 191th meeting, here Tuesday with the ruling that the laws related to minimum age of marriage were un-Islamic and that children of any age could get married if they attain puberty.At the conclusion of two day meeting, Chairman CII Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani noted that the laws related to marriage too were unfair and there cannot be any age of marriage.
However,
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he explained that there were two segments of marriage -- nikah and ruksati, while nikah could be performed at any age.
"Even the minors can have nikah but that has to be executed by the guardians," chairman CII said adding, "But ruksti could be executed only after attaining the age of puberty."
He said that the age of puberty varies from individuals to individuals and it was the responsibility of guardians to have ruksati soon the child attains the age of puberty.
"The laws limiting the age for both the segments of marriage are unIslamic and needed to be rectified," he added.
Officials told Dawn that the council members discussed various historic references related to marriage and concluded that each girl has different age of reaching puberty.
The officials were asked if the international conventions signed by Pakistain related to child marriage would be violated after this ruling by CII.
Responding to the query the official said that the international conventions cannot be in contradiction to the constitution of the country or Islam and if they were, those particular clauses would not apply on Pakistain.
The CII meeting also suggested to the government that 'nikah' registrars should have a certain level of qualification.
"Not everyone should be allowed to become a Nikah Registrar," Maulana Sheerani demanded the government, "While the fee for registration of Nikahnama should also be abolished."
The CII had on earlier day suggested the government to change Mohammedan marriage laws as it required Mohammedan male to seek permission from the previous wife or wives for another marriage.
Check out the inclusive CII group foto and story in