Child Marriage Restraint Act — Maryam Nawaz, a pride for every daughter

There are certain complex and sensitive issues in our society that governments often hesitate to address, choosing instead to keep them suppressed. While some segments of society do raise these issues from time to time, their voices rarely reach the corridors of power. The government led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has rejected such tendencies. Matters that people once feared discussing due to possible backlash have now been brought toward resolution. The approval of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act stands as a strong testament to this shift.

The time for sacrificing daughters at the altar of social pressures has passed. Early marriages are a major tragedy in our society. Today, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif stands as an iron wall against this injustice. Various social organizations have long highlighted this issue across different platforms, yet their concerns have never been taken seriously. Being a mother herself, Punjab's chief minister considers child marriage an unforgivable crime.

Do daughters not have rights? Is it humane to sacrifice them to satisfy personal egos? Forcing young girls into marriages without their consent is nothing short of a grave sin. Legislating on such a sensitive issue is no easy task. The Punjab government deserves credit for successfully enacting such significant legislation. Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif has extended a protective hand over every daughter in Punjab. When daughters of the province refer to her as a mother, it is inconceivable that a mother would allow her child to be sacrificed for someone’s ego.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act serves as a firm barrier against regressive social customs. Among the most vulnerable segments of society are young girls who are often sacrificed due to societal pressures. Under this law, marriage is not permitted for either boys or girls below the age of 18, and a Computerised National Identity Card is mandatory.

How long will daughters continue to pay for crimes they did not commit? Whether it is honour-related violence, denial of inheritance rights or attempts to conceal wrongdoing, must a girl always be the victim? We do not live under the law of the jungle. The sacrifices of young girls must end. It cannot be allowed that the mistakes of men are borne by innocent daughters.

This is a vision that has been pursued for the past 20 years. Those who oppose setting the minimum marriage age at 18 must answer: do they want their daughters married at six or eleven years of age? Under the law of the land, no individual can enter into a contract without attaining the age of 18 and possessing a CNIC. Marriage is one of the most significant contracts in life — it determines the future of a young girl. Yet, little attention has been paid to how many girls lose their lives due to early marriages. One can only wonder about the compulsions of parents who marry off their daughters at such a young age.

Under this law, the minimum age for marriage for both boys and girls has been set at 18, eliminating gender discrimination and ensuring equality. The law introduces strict measures to prevent the exploitation of minors, forced marriages and child trafficking. It defines every individual below 18 years as a child, and any marriage involving one or both underage parties is considered a child marriage.

The Act grants exclusive jurisdiction to the session courts to hear cases under this law. It clearly states that no Nikah Registrar shall register a child marriage; violation will result in up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000. Any adult who marries a child will face a minimum of two to a maximum of three years in prison, along with a fine of Rs500,000.

Furthermore, any form of marital or physical relationship with a minor, even with purported consent, will be treated as child marriage. Those involved in child abuse will face imprisonment ranging from five to seven years and a minimum fine of Rs2 million. Transporting a child for the purpose of child marriage, whether within or outside the province, will be considered child trafficking, punishable by five to seven years in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million. All individuals involved in such networks will also be subject to legal action.

The passage of this Act had become a necessity of the time as child marriages were also damaging the country’s image at the global level. The era of treating daughters as inferior has ended. Punjab, today, has a government that represents mothers, sisters, and daughters — a government that is committed to raising the voice of every girl and ensuring her protection and rights with full strength.

Daughters of Punjab now feel secure, knowing their future is in safe hands. No one will be allowed to sacrifice them to fulfil personal egos or desires. Today’s daughters are tomorrow’s mothers and the architects of the future. A strong and courageous mother lays the foundation of a progressive society, and Maryam Nawaz Sharif is fulfilling this role with full responsibility.

Every daughter and every mother in Punjab stands shoulder to shoulder with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Act is a matter of pride for all daughters and mothers of the province. On this historic legislation, every daughter of Punjab is grateful to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and all members of the Punjab Assembly who played their role in its approval.

(The writer is Punjab Minister for Information and Culture)