Curbing child marriage

In a long-overdue move, the National Assembly has passed a landmark bill aimed at curbing child marriage and forced conversions - two deeply intertwined abuses that have quietly devastated countless lives across Pakistan.

Tabled by MNA Sharmila Faruqui of the PPP and passed unanimously on Friday, the bill represents a rare moment of political unity and moral clarity in a legislative environment often hampered by indecision and appeasement.

Following the lead of Sindh and Punjab, the Islamabad Capital Territory has now adopted bold legal provisions that set 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage for both girls and boys. The bill mandates that no Nikkah registrar may solemnise a marriage without verifying the CNICs of both individuals.

Non-compliance — by parents, registrars or facilitators — will result in penalties of up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs100,000. Crucially, the legislation also repeals the outdated Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 — a colonial-era statute that has long failed to protect vulnerable children and has often served as a smokescreen for inaction. For decades, entire networks operating under religious and feudal cover have abducted underage girls, producing fabricated evidence of age and consent.

This new law signals a critical shift. However, legislation alone is not enough. The federal government must now follow through with robust implementation by training Nikkah registrars, launching public awareness campaigns and maintaining zero tolerance for violations.

Unfortunately, K-P and Balochistan still operate under antiquated frameworks that permit the marriage of girls as young as 16. Legal uniformity across all provinces is essential. It is time to ensure that every child in Pakistan, regardless of geography, is protected under uniform laws and afforded the same right to a safe and dignified childhood.