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       ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday lashed out at the government for allegedly enacting legislation under pressure of foreign donors and the United Nations (UN), once again opposing the child marriage restraint law, passed last month.

       On the other hand, MNA Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari called for meaningful steps for women’s empowerment, stating that economic growth not possible if women remained excluded from opportunity, leadership and policy-making.

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       Taking part in the budget debate in the National Assembly, the JUI-F chief regretted that the parliament had approved the child marriage restraint law despite its opposition by the religious scholars and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), alleging that such legislation was being done under pressure from the West.

       The JUI-F chief in his speech, which was mostly censored on national and social media, also voiced concern over the security situation in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

       JUI-F leader decries marriage restraint law in NA; Aseefa calls for meaningful steps for women’s empowerment; PTI stages walkout over finance minister’s absence

       “There is no writ of the state in two provinces of the country,” he declared.

       While appreciating armed forces over its brave response to Indian aggression, the Maulana said it had been proved that if the armed forces would perform their real duty, the nation would stand behind them.

       “Is it not a fact that the armed forces are controlling everything, including parliament?” he asked.

       Aseefa’s speech

       In her brief speech, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari remained focused on the budget and stated that “Pakistan deserves a budget that is progressive, people-centric and protective for the most vulnerable in our society.”

       “It is a shame that in 2025, Mr Speaker, over 56 million Pakistanis still live without electricity. And instead of encouraging solar energy, the government in its shortsightedness has im--posed tax on solar panel,” she said, adding: “We should not be punishing people for turning to solar energy. While the government boa-sts about its generation capacity, it is doing little to ensure that power actually reaches the people.”

       She said the people of her Shaheed Benazirabad constituency were up to 15-hour loadshedding during this sweltering heat.

       “And now with these outrageous taxes on solar they have been denied even a chance to find relief through a clean, alternative and affordable energy,” she regretted.

       “Let me say this with conviction that women are not just a sector of economy, women are half the population. No economic plan can succeed if women remain excluded from opportunity, leadership and policy-making.”

       “Let this budget deliver meaningful steps for gender inclusive vow, not just token allocations, but real mechanisms for empowerment,” she said.

       The opposition members belonging to the PTI staged a token walkout to register their protest over the absence of Finance Minister Muhmmad Aurangzeb during the budget debate.

       Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2025