Conviction rate low in child-marriage cases

Civil society representatives urged the Sindh government to strictly enforce the Child Marriage Restraint Act, warning that underage marriages remain rampant due to poor implementation.

At a dialogue in Mirpurkhas, organised by the Hari Welfare Association, activists and officials expressed alarm over the persistence of the practice.

The event also marked the launch of a district-level civil society forum focused on protecting child rights and preventing early marriages.

Hari Welfare Association's executive, Akram Khaskheli, cited Sindh police data showing that from 2018 to 2024, 272 FIRs were registered under the Act, but only 30 convictions were secured-23 in Hyderabad and none in Karachi or Sukkur.

He stressed that the figures underreport the actual scale of the problem.

Deputy Director Social Welfare Department said the forum could bridge gaps between communities and state agencies.