KARACHI, July 16: The provincial government on Tuesday constituted a three-member expert committee to prepare a draft law on Hindu marriage and forced conversions in consultation with minority lawmakers.

Law Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro presided over a meeting of minority legislators that decided to form a committee and recommended that former acting chief justice of Pakistan Rana Bhagwandas, eminent Sindh High Court lawyer Jhamatmal Jethanana and retired Justice Majida Rizvi comprise the three-member expert committee.

Those minority MPAs who attended the meeting included Dr Khatumal Jeewan, Dr Lal Chand Ukrani, Pesu Mal, Mukesh Kumar Chawla and Gayanchand Israni.

After the meeting held in the law minister’s chamber in the assembly building, Dr Mandhro told the media that on Tuesday the first meeting was held with the minority lawmakers of the Sindh Assembly with the aim of taking them on board and obtaining their input about the draft law so that after its assessment by the law department the bill could be tabled in the next assembly session.

He said the experts’ committee was formed on the suggestion of minority MPAs as they felt that the experts could suggest amendments to the draft law.

One of the participants in the meeting, provincial Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla, told Dawn that the government had sent its request to all the three law experts and hoped that they would consent to be part of the committee. Once they received their agreement, a meeting would be called to start work on the draft law, he said.

He also mentioned that the draft law should discuss the issue of alimony and child support as well. “Such laws exist in marriage laws of other communities but there is nothing for a Hindu woman should she get divorced and have a minor child to look after.”

When asked why the draft law was not made earlier he answered that before the 18th amendment to the Constitution there was a move to make the necessary amendments in Hindu marriage laws at the federal level but after the amendment the subject of marriage was devolved to provinces and now the committee has been formed to look into the matter.

He also added that he and his fellow legislators are aiming to prepare the draft law before Eid so that it could be tabled in the Sindh Assembly as a bill in the next regular session.