On 17th September 2019, MPLRAG representative filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Ministry of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs for an official copy of the joint proposal submitted by the Minister of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms, on amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, which was approved by Cabinet of Ministers on 20th August 2019.
In response to the RTI request, the following letter was obtained from the Ministry of Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs, along with a true copy of the Joint Cabinet Memorandum on Amendments to the Muslim Marriage & Divorce Act (MMDA).
DOWNLOAD: Joint Cabinet Memorandum on amendments to the MMDA – August 2019
MPLRAG reiterates that the recommendations approved by the Cabinet contain highly problematic amendments on certain matters and have in effect failed to adequately address concerns raised by Muslim women’s groups on some other matters.
It is devastating that pressures and threats from conservative community groups against reform have triumphed over principles of equality and justice and basic fundamental rights of Muslim women. It is utterly disappointing that Muslim MPs have backtracked on some of the previous progressive positions that they held in July 2019, including on the appointment of women as Quazi judges. We urge that comprehensive reform to the MMDA be made a priority issue of concern for the government.
Read our comparative analysis on the proposed amendments here – https://mplreforms.com/2019/08/23/cabinet-ministers-fail-to-adequately-address-mmda-reform-concerns/