Pakistan proposes 'bizarre' bill on compulsory marriage
Bishop Shukardin says the proposed Sindh law would increase the financial woes of parents
Pakistan has the sixth-highest number of women married or in a union before the age of 18. (Photo: AFP)
A Catholic bishop has joined human rights activists in rejecting a controversial bill that seeks to make marriage compulsory for people aged 18 in Pakistan.
The Sharia-based Sindh Compulsory Marriage Act, 2021, states that the parents of an adult who is not being married off after turning 18 will have to submit an undertaking with a justified reason for the delay before the deputy commissioner of their district. They could also face a fine of 500 rupees (US$3.22) for each of their unmarried children.