A round table meeting on draft of Child Marriage Prohibition Bill 2015 was organized by Aurat Foundation at Serena Hotel, Quetta. The activity was chaired by Ms. Rahila Hameed Khan Durrani, Speaker Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. Women parliamentarians Dr. Shama Ishaq, Ms. Kishwar Naheed, Ms. Masooma Hayat, Ms. Spozmai Achakzai, Ms. Arifa Siddique, and Ms. Salma Qureshi, Director Women’s Development Department, Justice (retd) Mehta Kailash Nath Kohli, Chairperson Balochistan Public Service Commission, members of standing committee, representatives from Social Welfare Department , Women Development Department, Law Department,  civil society and media also  participated  in the  meeting.

Ms. Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani said that Council of Islamic of Ideology (CII), religious scholars and other stakeholders would be taken on board on the  bills pertaining to child marriage, acid throwing on women and welfare of disabled persons.

She said this that consultation with the stakeholders before legislation on women’s rights issues will make the bills and laws acceptable for all people. She praised the efforts of Aurat Foundation for presenting the pro-women agenda for Balochistan especially legislation for prohibition of child marriages.          

She said that standing committees of Balochistan Assembly are functional and all stakeholders are being consulted and all aspects are being reviewed before legislation on different issues. The members of every standing committee must review all aspects of the draft on any issue before tabling it in the assembly, she said. She also said that drafts of all bills would be tabled in the assembly with the recommendations of the Standing Committees.

Earlier, Mr. Haroon Dawood, Resident Director Aurat Foundation Quetta, briefed about the stages that were taken by Aurat Foudation and other civil society organizations till the vetting of draft by Law department. He informed the participants that child marriage prohibition bill was drafted after comparing the both bills of Sindh and Punjab.  Later, bill of Balochistan was also translated by Advoacte Azam Jan Zarkoon and handed over to Social welfare department for further process.   

Ms. Saima Javaid Deputy programme Manager, presented the facts and adverse effects of early marriage on society and also presented the draft of proposed bill on child marriage before the participants. Justice (Retd) Mehta Kailash Nath Kohli reviwed different points of the bill.

The participants shared their views and appreciated efforts of AF for preparing the draft and putting continuous struggle for its passage from Balochistan Assembly.