ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Islamic advisory body has requested the government to make “triple talaq” – or instant divorce – among Muslims a punishable offence to address the “widespread social issue” and protect family system, women and children from the menace.
The practice allows a husband to divorce his wife by repeating the word “talaq” – or divorce – three times in any form, including email or text message. Triple talaq is not mentioned in Islamic law or the Quran, even though the practice has existed among Muslims for decades.
“This has become a widespread social issue in Pakistan and has been ruining the lives of women and children,” Dr. Qibla Ayaz, chairperson of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), told Arab News on Saturday. “We want Parliament to make the practice a criminal offence since it will discourage the practice.”
The council is the country’s constitutional body responsible for giving legal advice on Islamic issues to the government, though its recommendations are non-binding.
Last year, it unanimously declared triple talaq a punishable offence, though it is yet to decide an appropriate punishment in such cases and convince the legislature to enact a law on the issue.
In a meeting in the Parliament House on Thursday, Ayaz asked the country’s law minister, Dr. Farogh Naseem, to initiate an awareness campaign against triple talaq and list some of its adverse social effects on the nikah-nama – or Islamic marriage contract – document.
“We are ready to legislate on the issue if you [the Council of Islamic Ideology] can cite any Islamic reference from history to criminalize triple talaq and suggest minimum punishment for it,” the law minister reportedly told the CII chairperson.
Ayaz said if the law ministry “agrees in principle” with his institution on the issue, the matter of punishment could be decided in consultation with lawmakers and Islamic scholars.
“It is a matter of utmost importance and needs to be addressed as early as possible,” he added. “In case of triple talaq, there is no room for reconciliation, and this can result in negative consequences for women and children.”
Islamic scholars belonging to different schools of thought say the Quran clearly spells out how a man should divorce his life partner. The practice has to be spread over three months, allowing a couple some time to reflect and move toward reconciliation.
Some Muslim countries, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh have already banned the practice. India’s Parliament in July approved a law to make the practice a criminal offence.
Men who breach the law can be jailed for up to three years.
Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology recommends criminalizing Muslim instant divorce
Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology recommends criminalizing Muslim instant divorce
- The country’s law ministry says it is ready to legislate if the advisory body sites Islamic references from history to ban the practice
- ‘Triple talaq’ is prohibited in Egypt, UAE, India and Bangladesh
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
