PESHAWAR: This is with reference to the report and editorial in your newspaper on the incidence of early marriages in Pakistan (Jan 2 & 3).
Both clearly say that child marriage is prohibited, especially because of the existence of the Child Marriage Restraint Act which dates back to 1929. For the purposes of the Act, a ‘minor’ was defined as a person below the age of 18 years. However, ‘child’ was defined as a male of less than 18 years of age and a female of less than 16 years. The Act imposes a penalty of Rs1,000 and imprisonment of one month in case of violation.
In Pakistan, poverty, illiteracy, social and cultural practices are factors cited as primary reasons for the prevalence of child marriages. An early marriage leads to early conception, which ultimately affects the health of the teenage girl. Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and a child is defined as below the age of 18 for both males and females in the Convention. Therefore, there is a need for an amendment to the Marriage Restraint Act so that the age for marriage for both males and females is 18. Similarly, the penalty should be increased from Rs1,000, which is negligible, to Rs100,000.
Imran Takkar
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2013.
