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On Monday this week, Pakistan's parliament passed an important bill that will take steps toward ending child marriages.
On May 16, Sharmila Faruqui of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was the one to introduce the bill. To her delight, the House members unanimously approved it.
The next step was on Monday when PPP Sen. Sherry Rehman introduced the bill to the Senate. They passed it as well but not everyone was happy about it, as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of the Islamist party walked out.
The JUI-F deemed the bill “un-Islamic” and in conflict with cultural and religious values. For over a decade, a similar legislation was enforced in Sindh Province.
The next step is for the Senate to send the bill to President Asif Ali Zardari. Once the law is passed, it will still have restrictions as it will apply only to the federal capital, Islamabad.
Making Monumental Changes
"In this modern day and age, we have the resources and the research which invariably proves that child marriage is harmful to both genders and especially girls who have hit puberty and are able to bear children," states the bill. "Furthermore, child marriages are in complete violation of the rights of children, and international obligations and goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals focuses on gender equality and includes a target to end child marriage by 2030. Therefore, in order to restrain child marriages and protect the basic rights of children, it is expedient to enact a law for the ICT."
The bill states that anyone under the age of 18 years is considered a child, and therefore will not be able to enter into a legally binding marital contract until they're of age. It also states that no Nikah (Islamic marriage) registrar (officiant) is allowed to marry individuals under 18.
Registrars are also required to check and confirm the age of both parties using their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC), issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
For anyone defying this new law, the registrar can face a $354 USD fine and spend up to a year in prison, and a man who marries an underage woman could face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
For any kind of coercion or forcing a child into marriage, the people involved could face seven years in jail and a fine of 1 million Pakistani Rupees ($3,540).
"The same punishment applies to anyone involved in trafficking a child for the purpose of marriage. Those who assist in arranging a child marriage may be sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined."
What it means for Christians
In 2025, Pakistan ranks as eighth-deadliest country in the world to confess your Christian faith, according to the World Watch List.
"Landmark day for the Senate of Pakistan today! Proud of the @PPP_Org and all the parties including allies and the opposition for supporting the Child Marriage Restraint bill,” says PPP Sen. Sherry Rehman on X. "This is third time this House has passed this bill in one shape or form. I credit @SeharKamran for moving this bill before I did again in the Senate, where it was passed in 2019, but neither of our bills was moved or passed by NA. Today when the Lower House sent the bill to us, moved by @sharmilafaruqi, we jointly passed it yet again. Now it will be law inshallah for ICT."
The bill is a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting freedom of faith and religious rights as well, according to Punjab Assembly member Ejaz Alam Augustine, who is a Christian.
"We welcome the passage of the bill and hope that the anti-child marriage bill pending in the Punjab Assembly for over a year will also be tabled soon for voting," Augustine told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "The legislation is also critical to protect minor Christian girls from the scourge of forced faith conversions as the perpetrators misuse religion to abduct and marry underage girls."