By Jacinth Banite
In a groundbreaking move that sparked widespread commendation and criticism, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law a bill that criminalises child marriage in Islamabad Capital Territory, setting a powerful legal precedent for the rest of the country.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill of 2025, now an Act, was introduced in the National Assembly by Sharmila Faruqui of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on May 16 and entered the Senate through PPP’s Sherry Rehman on May 19, before reaching Zardari’s consideration on May 29, reports Christian Daily International.
What does the law say?
The new legislature sets the minimum age for marriage for both genders at 18 years old, prohibiting marriage officiants, locally known as Nikah Khawan, from conducting weddings involving minors.
It also holds marriage registrars responsible for verifying the age of both parties.
Violation of this chapter may result in a one-year jail term and a fine of PKR100,000.
The law also stipulates that any adult man who marries an underage girl could face up to a three-year imprisonment.
In addition, facilitation of or trafficking for child marriage is declared as a non-bailable offence, punishable by up to seven years in jail and fines.
Moreover, it mandates local courts to conclude related cases within 90 days and classify cohabitation with a minor under 18 as “statutory rape”, while giving relevent authorities power to intervene if planned child marriages come to their knowledge.
However, for now, the law only applies to the federal capital Islamabad, and only district and sessions courts may handle related cases.
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More than a law
In a post on X/Twitter, Senator Rehman welcomed the enactment of the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill of 2025, describing the move as a “proud moment for #Pakistan” and noting that it was the result “of a long journey of twists and turns”.
“Thank you to all the women and men who made this possible,” the PPP member wrote.
For Rehman, the law “is not just about banning child marriage”.
“It is a declaration that our girls deserve the right to childhood, to education, to health, and to a life free from coercion and harm,” she said.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities in the United Kingdom also praised the landmark legislature, with co-chairman David Alton calling the move a “monumental moment for human rights in Pakistan”.
“We commend President Zardari and members of the National Assembly and Senate for their courage and commitment to protecting vulnerable children, especially girls, from the life-altering harm of early and forced marriages,” Alton was quoted as saying in a statement.
“The new law brings Pakistan in line with its international human rights obligations and represents a beacon of hope for the country’s future generations.”
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Religious groups disapprove
Amid the resounding praises from both local and international entities, the law was met with major disapproval from Islamist constitution bodies, such as the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which declared the legislature “un-Islamic”.
This echoes an earlier declaration made by political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, who reportedly carried out strong protests and staged a walkout during the tabulation phase of the law.
In Pakistan, 29 per cent of girls are married by 18, according to a 2018 demographic survey seen by Arab News.
Moreover, four per cent of them marry before the age of 15 compared with five percent for boys, according to a separate report by Girls Not Brides, a global coalition aiming to end child marriage.
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