Parliament of Pakistan has passed a new law that amends the Pakistan Penal Code. It now needs assent of the President of Pakistan to become law. The new law has also suggested punishment for cases of forced marriages of minor girls or women, belonging to minority groups.
The existing section 498-B of the PPC reads: “Whoever coerces or in any manner whatsoever compels a woman to enter into marriage shall be punished with imprisonment of description for a term which may not be less than three years and shall also be liable to a fine of Rs500,000”.
In the amendment, a proviso has been added to provide for a sentence of up to 10 years and not less than five years and a fine of up to Rs1 million in the case of a girl child as defined in the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1992, or a non-Muslim woman.
Source: Dawn Feb 07, 2017
