In this day and age, with all the knowledge we have, there’s no excuse left for child marriage — and finally, the law agrees.
On a historic Friday, the National Assembly passed a landmark bill to criminalise child marriage in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The bill, introduced by MNA Sharmila Faruqui, wasn’t even on the formal agenda yet it received unanimous approval, symbolising a major step toward protecting children’s rights in Pakistan.
And here’s why this legislation is a turning point:
- The legal age for marriage in Islamabad is now officially 18 — no exceptions.
- Harsh penalties have been introduced for anyone who conducts, facilitates, or promotes child marriage.
- Courts now have the authority to intervene before a child marriage takes place and protect whistleblowers.
A Bill That Breaks With the Past
Moved by MNA Sharmila Faruqui, the bill wasn’t even on the day’s formal agenda. But with unanimous support and a suspension of standard rules, it made its way through the floor and into history.
Once enacted, the new law will repeal the outdated Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 within the federal capital. It places full legal authority in the hands of district and sessions judges, ensuring that no other court can try cases related to child marriage under this act.
“The objective was clear,” said Faruqui. “To curb, discourage, and eventually eradicate the phenomenon of child marriages.”
No CNIC, No Nikah – The New Rule for Marriage Registration
One of the clearest mandates in the bill is this: no Nikah registrar shall register a marriage where one or both parties are under 18. In addition, every person solemnising a Nikah must verify that both individuals have valid CNICs issued by NADRA, with their date of birth clearly mentioned.
If they fail to do so? They face up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs. 100,000 — or both. Unless they can prove that they reasonably believed the marriage was not underage, the penalty stands.
Three Years in Jail for Adult Men Who Marry Children
Here’s where the law sends an even stronger message: any male above 18 who marries a child will be punished with rigorous imprisonment of no less than two years and up to three years, along with a fine. This clause alone addresses one of the most painful realities in rural and underserved areas where young girls are often married off to adult men, with little say in their fate.
Child Abuse by Law – Even With Consent
The bill boldly states: “Any form of cohabitation, before attaining the age of eighteen years, with or without consent, resulting from a child marriage shall be considered child abuse.” This changes the legal framing completely it’s not just a cultural child marriage issue anymore. It’s child abuse.
Anyone who persuades, forces, or entices a child bride or groom into any kind of cohabitation will be punished with five to seven years in prison and a fine of not less than Rs. 1 million.
No More Silent Enablers – Parents and Middlemen Also Accountable
The law doesn’t stop at Nikah registrars or grooms it holds everyone accountable. Parents, guardians, relatives, or anyone who helps arrange or even fails to stop a child marriage in Pakistan will be sentenced to two to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. This finally breaks the culture of silence that enables such practices behind closed doors.
Stopping a Child Marriage Before It Starts
Perhaps the most powerful tool in the bill is this: the court now has the right to issue prevention orders if someone informs the court that a child marriage is about to take place, the court can immediately step in and stop it. And if that informant wants to remain anonymous even from the child’s own parents the law makes sure their identity is protected. It’s a bold step towards creating safer avenues for intervention.
A Long Way to Go – But a Strong Step Forward
While this bill only applies to the Islamabad Capital Territory for now, its passage sends a strong signal to provinces across Pakistan. It sets a precedent not just legally, but morally. The battle to end child marriage in Pakistan isn’t over. But we took a powerful step forward.
As Sharmila Faruqui’s bill becomes law, it reflects a changing tide where protecting children is no longer a dream but a duty. And one day we’ll look back and say: That was the moment we chose childhood over custom.
