Senate Committee agrees for exclusion of controversial clause from Hindu Marriage Act

ISLAMABAD, February 17: Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has agreed for the exclusion of disputed clause related to Hindu marriage act on the insistence of Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council and Member National Assembly. On the special invitation, Dr Ramesh Vankwani on Wednesday exclusively attended the meeting which was chaired by Senator Nasreen Jalil at Parliament House. Dr Ramesh Kumar said that since from the establishment of Pakistan, peace loving Hindu community was demanding for protection of their rights through Hindu Marriage Act. Lauding the role of parliament, he said that this historical bill must be approved unanimously. While representing Hindu community living across the country, Dr. Ramesh informed committee members about the concerns of the controversial clause 12(iii) in the marriage act. “The marriage below eighteen years of age is not acceptable in any religion and society” he said. Termination of marriage due to religious conversion is a serious matter and it could accelerate the ongoing events of forced religious conversions, he further emphasized. Dr. Ramesh Vankwani requested Senate committee members for deletion of this clause 12(iii) from the recently-presented Hindu Marriage Act, in National Assembly. -DNA