Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed a landmark bill banning marriages for children under 18, imposing strict penalties including imprisonment and hefty fines. The new law mandates marriage registrars to verify Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) of both parties before solemnizing or registering a marriage, ensuring no underage union is formalized.
Violators, including those who perform, facilitate, or force child marriages, will face severe punishments. An adult man marrying a minor girl will now face a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 3 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine. Marriage registrars or officiants who fail to verify age documents will be punished with one-year imprisonment, a Rs. 100,000 fine, or both.
The law explicitly states that any sexual activity with a minor spouse—whether consensual or forced—will be treated as statutory rape. Those coercing, arranging, or promoting underage marriages face 5 to 7 years in jail and fines up to Rs. 1 million. Parents or guardians involved in child marriages may receive 3 years of imprisonment and fines, while forcing minors to relocate for marriage will be considered child trafficking, punishable by 5 to 7 years in prison.
Courts have been empowered to issue injunctions against underage marriages and must resolve related cases within 90 days. The law takes immediate effect in the federal capital, with expectations for provincial adoption.
This legislation marks a significant step in Pakistan’s efforts to combat child marriage, protecting minors from exploitation and ensuring legal accountability for offenders.
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