Pakistani Bill Would Ban Forced Matrimony
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s ruling party yesterday introduced a bill to outlaw forced marriages, including under an ancient tribal custom in which women are married off in order to settle feuds.
The proposed law was introduced in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, a lawmaker and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q Party.
The party, which has a majority in both houses, strongly supports President Musharraf, who has vowed to give women more rights in line with his policy to project Pakistan as a moderate, progressive Islamic nation.
