President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the child’s adhesion bill, 2025, which set the minimum age of marriage at 18 years over Pakistan.
The new legislation criminalizes solemn marriages where either the boy or the girl is minor.
Under the law, no Nikah Khuwan (marriage manager) can make a marriage involving minors, with violations that can be punished by up to one year in prison and a fine of RS100,000.
In addition, a man over 18 who marries a minor girl can be exposed to up to three years of string prison.
The bill also allows the courts to intervene if informed of a minor marriage, including the protection of the identity of those reporting such cases.
PPP ensator Sherry Rehman paid tribute to the bill as a landmark victory in the fight against child marriage and described it as a crucial step towards protecting the rights of women and children.
“This law is the result of a long and difficult struggle, and it will help improve education and health for young girls,” said Sherry Rehman.
She further recognized the role that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto has played, and party leaders, other political representatives and public support to secure the bill’s passage.
In addition, Malaika Reza, Secretary General of PPP Human Rights Cell, expressed her appreciation of the management, as President Zardari has shown.
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She referred to the bill as a “significant victory” in the fight to protect the rights of women and children.
The bill was originally introduced in the National Assembly of PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui and later presented in the Senate by Senator Rehman.
However, the legislation faced the opposition of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which declared the bill as opposed to Islamic principles.
