TIMES REPORT
KARACHI : A special meeting of the National Lobbying Delegation was held at the Karachi Press Club to discuss effective enforcement of marriage-related laws, removal of existing legal and administrative gaps, and practical measures to prevent child marriages.
The meeting was attended by National Lobbying Delegation leader Madam Iram Javed, Muhammad Bakhsh, Advocate High Court Madam Talat Yasmeen, Advocate High Court M.B. Kambar, and Human Rights Defender and Senior Journalist Pervez Bhatti.
The participants reviewed the challenges and shortcomings faced in the implementation of marriage laws and discussed practical measures to ensure effective enforcement. They stressed that legislation alone is not sufficient to eliminate child marriages and that strict and effective implementation of existing laws is equally essential.
Speaking at the meeting, National Lobbying Delegation central leader Madam Iram Javed proposed that it should be made mandatory to record the CNIC details of both parties with every Nikah Nama to facilitate verification of their identities and ages.
She further proposed that the Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC) data maintained by local governments should be fully integrated with NADRA records. The meeting also considered the introduction of a unique identification code for every marriage, which would make marriage records easier to track, verify and securely maintain.
The participants also emphasized the need for effective implementation of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, along with other laws relating to marriage. They called for stronger coordination and information-sharing among the relevant government departments and institutions.
The National Lobbying Delegation leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continuing national-level lobbying, advocacy and public awareness campaigns aimed at ending child marriages, strengthening the legal registration of marriages, and ensuring effective implementation of marriage-related laws.
The meeting concluded with a call for coordinated institutional action and stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect children and ensure that marriage laws are implemented in letter and spirit.
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