In a historic move for child rights in the country, Pakistan’s parliament has passed legislation raising the legal marriage age to 18 for all genders in the federal territory.

According to the Christian Post, the bill was approved by both houses of parliament despite ideological resistance and is now awaiting final approval from the president to become law in Islamabad.

The legislation, introduced first on May 16 by Sharmila Faruqui of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), marks a significant step toward combating child marriage in the country. The National Assembly gave it unanimous support, signaling rare unity across political lines.

Just days later, on May 19, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman brought the bill to the upper house. Despite objections and a walkout by members of the Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), the Senate voted to approve the legislation.

JUI-F members voiced concerns based on religious and cultural interpretations, calling for the bill to be reviewed by the country’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). However, Senate members clarified that the CII had already endorsed the measure.

The new law will replace the 1929 legislation in Islamabad

The bill’s scope is limited to the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), but its implications are broad. It replaces the nearly century-old Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 within the region. However, any rulings under the previous law will remain valid.

The updated legislation defines any person under the age of 18 as a child and prohibits marriage for anyone below that age, regardless of gender. Nikah registrars are required to verify the age of both parties using national identity cards before officiating any marriage.

Severe consequences now await violators. Any officiant who solemnizes a marriage involving a minor can face up to a year in jail and a fine of 100,000 Pakistani rupees, approximately USD 354.

Living with a minor spouse classified as statutory rape

The law goes further to protect minors from exploitation. Any adult male who marries a girl under 18 could face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment under the newly passed provisions.

Additionally, cohabiting in a marital relationship with a child is classified as statutory rape, a charge that carries serious criminal consequences under Pakistani law. Forced child marriages are also criminalized and punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of 1 million Pakistani rupees, or about $3,540.

The law targets not only those who directly engage in child marriage but also those who facilitate it. Individuals found to have assisted in arranging such marriages, or parents and guardians who fail to prevent them, could face up to three years of imprisonment and financial penalties.

Senator praises cross-party support for child bill

Senator Sherry Rehman praised the legislative achievement on social media, calling it a “landmark day” for the Senate. She credited her colleague Sehar Kamran for previously moving similar legislation in 2019 that did not advance past the lower house.

“This is the third time this house has passed the bill in one form or another,” Rehman stated. “Today, when the Lower House sent the bill to us, moved by @sharmilafaruqi, we jointly passed it yet again. Now it will be law inshallah for ICT.”

The law also establishes judicial mechanisms to halt illegal marriages before they occur. Courts can be alerted in advance to stop an impending child marriage. Whistleblowers bringing attention to violations are assured anonymity and legal protection.

Christian minorities are vulnerable to forced conversions

Lawmakers and human rights advocates have also highlighted the bill’s potential to protect minors in religious minority communities, particularly Christian girls who are often targeted for abduction and forced conversion.

Punjab Assembly member Ejaz Alam Augustine stated that the legislation is crucial in shielding Christian minors from being coerced into changing their religion under the guise of marriage. “Perpetrators misuse religion to abduct and marry underage girls,” he said.

Rights groups report instances where minor girls, sometimes as young as 10, are kidnapped and made to convert before being coerced into marriage. Courts are criticized for dismissing evidence of the child’s actual age and sending them back to their abductors, deemed “legal spouses.”

Punjab lags the federal capital advances

In contrast to the progress in Islamabad, similar legislation remains stalled in Pakistan’s Punjab province. A bill introduced there over a year ago, aiming to raise the marriage age for girls from 16 to 18, has yet to be brought to a vote.

Elsewhere, some reforms have already taken place. Sindh province has had age-18 marriage laws in place for more than a decade without significant reported issues. In 2024, federal legislation raised the marriage age to 18 for Christians under the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Act.

However, concerns persist that when Christian girls are pressured or forced to convert to Islam, where younger ages for marriage are permitted, these protections can be circumvented. As Pakistan is nearly 96% Muslim and ranks 8th globally for difficulty in Christian living conditions, implementation remains a challenge.

Calls for stronger monitoring and swift enforcement

Experts point toward the importance of not only passing laws but also ensuring their enforcement. Community watch committees are being promoted as one tool to help prevent violations at the local level.

To that end, the law includes measures to speed up justice. Those charged under the act will not be eligible for bail, and trials must be completed within 90 days to prevent unnecessary delays in child protection efforts.

The bill awaits formal assent by President Asif Ali Zardari to become law. Lawmakers and advocates hope that its passage will mark the beginning of broader reforms across other provinces, especially in areas where child marriage remains alarmingly common.