President Zardari signs bill prohibiting child marriage into law

• Nikah khuwan violating law faces one-year jail, Rs100,000 fine.
• Man marrying underage girl faces 3 years rigorous imprisonment.
• Council of Islamic Ideology rejects legislation, calls it un-Islamic.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, which fixes minimum age for marriage at 18, making it an official law.

According to the new legislation, no Nikah khuwan will be allowed to solemnise a marriage where one or both of the girl and boy are under the age of 18. Any Nikah khuwan found violating this law may face up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs100,000.

Moreover, if a man over the age of 18 marries an underage girl, he may be sentenced to up to three years of rigorous imprisonment.

The law prohibiting child marriage also states that if a court becomes aware of an underage marriage taking place, it will issue an order to prevent it. Furthermore, any individual informing the court may request to keep their identity confidential, and the court is obligated to provide protection.

Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman paid tribute to President Zardari for signing the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, calling it a landmark moment in the fight against underage marriage in Pakistan. She said that this important legislation marks a milestone in the country’s legal efforts to end child marriage and protect the rights of women and children. 

"Despite facing pressure, President Zardari showed resolve by signing the bill", which Rehman described as a symbol of a new era of reform in Pakistan.

According to the senator, the bill’s approval represents a victory for the protection of women’s and children’s rights. She emphasised that this law is the result of a long and difficult struggle, and it will help improve access to education and healthcare for young girls. 

“This bill is not just legislation, it is a commitment to ensure that every girl has the right to education, health, and a dignified life,” she said.

Rehman added that banning child marriage is a step toward securing safety, hope, and a brighter future for coming generations. She noted that after Sindh, the federal government has now sent a strong message against underage marriage, and she urged other provinces to follow suit and take steps toward similar progressive legislation.

The bill was originally introduced in the National Assembly by PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui and later presented in the Senate by Rehman.

The legislation, however, was rejected by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which termed it against Islam.

“The CII at its meeting termed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill which was moved by Sharmila Faruqui MNA in the National Assembly as un-Islamic,” an official statement issued by the CII media wing after the meeting said.

The participants of the meeting chaired by Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi maintained that clauses of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, fixing the age limit for marriage and declaring marriage below age of 18 as child abuse and punishment for committing the act, do not conform with the Islamic injunctions.

The CII meeting, while pointing out some problems in under-age marriages, also observed that the trend should be discouraged.

“However, the CII meeting as a whole rejected the bill terming the same as un-Islamic,” the CII statement said. The meeting also noted that the bill was not referred to the CII to seek council’s opinion and review.

It may be noted that ANP's Aimal Wali Khan and JUI-F's members had also opposed the bill in the Senate.

Pakistan has the sixth highest number of child brides globally — with an estimated 19 million girls married before the age of 18. Nearly half of them became pregnant before reaching legal age. Only 13% of married girls finished secondary school compared to 44% of unmarried peers, limiting their future opportunities and independence.