Balochistan Assembly approves child marriage bill

The Balochistan Assembly approved a bill against child marriage by a majority vote, despite fierce protests by the opposition, which tore copies of the bill and staged a demonstration before the Speaker’s dais.

The session took place under the chairmanship of Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. Bakht Muhammad Kakar, a government member, presented the bill on behalf of the treasury benches. The opposition denounced the bill as un-Islamic and drafted in haste. Opposition members used unparliamentary language and tore copies of the bill in protest. 

Opposition Leader Younis Zehri has rejected the bill and termed it inappropriate. He added that the opposition would challenge teh bill in court. The House approved the bill by a majority vote despite protests of the oppsition.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the government respected the opposition but that law-making remained a constitutional authority of the government.