Proposed Sharia Bill

The sharia bill, which declares the Koran and sharia (Islamic law) to be the source of all law in Pakistan, proposes setting up religious courts with powers to overrule existing laws on grounds that they are unIslamic. Among the laws relating to women's rights that would be overturned:

Family laws prohibiting polygamy.

Child marriage restraint act prohibiting girls under 16 years of age from marrying.

Dissolution of marriage act that would make registration of divorce with the government necessary contrary to the general view that under Islam a man can divorce his wife simply by saying three times ``I divorce you.''