Islamabad – In a significant move to protect children’s rights, a bill aimed at preventing child marriages has been passed within the jurisdiction of Islamabad.
The legislation officially makes child marriage a punishable offense.
President Asif Ali Zardari
has signed the bill into law
declaring that marrying underage children will now carry legal consequences.
Under the new law, it is mandatory for both individuals entering into a marriage to present valid national identity cards
before the nikah (marriage contract) can be registered.
According to the provisions of the bill, any adult male found guilty of marrying a girl under the age of 18 will face a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 3 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The law also relieves nikah registrars of any obligation to register marriages involving minors. The presence and verification of national identity cards for both parties is now a legal prerequisite for registration.
This legislation marks a major advancement in child protection efforts in Pakistan’s capital and is expected to serve as a precedent for broader reform across the country.
