Legislators mull free-will marriage laws

KARACHI: Karachi legislators proposed on Thursday that new legislation and an altered mindset was necessary to prevent the murder of women who want to marry who they chose.

Recent murders of women in Balochistan have raised questions over whether new legislation is needed to pre-empt and prevent such incidents. Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed Khan said the murder and undeclared burial of five women in Balochistan had given Pakistan a bad name globally. “Effective legislation and immediate measures are required to prevent illiterate people from using violent means against women,” he said. MPA Humera Alwani told Daily Times she would propose legislation for marriage of choice. “Marriages should be undertaken with mutual free will of the couples and the guardian should also respect the free will for a successful marriage,” she said. She declared the Balochistan case karo kari and said the district police officer should register first information reports in such cases because relatives are behind such killing and will not start proceedings themselves. “I shall try my best to propose new legislation in the Sindh Assembly after the presidential election,” she said.

MNA Fauzia Wahab said without changes in tribal mindset, no real change was possible regarding tribal customs.
Source: Daily Times
Date:9/5/2008