ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday approved a stringent bill prohibiting child marriage in the federal capital, sparking strong opposition from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) members who staged a walkout during the session. The bill, presented by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, defines a child as any individual below 18 years and imposes severe penalties for violations.
Under the new legislation, marriage registrars face one-year imprisonment and Rs. 100,000 fines for solemnizing underage unions. Adult men marrying minor girls will receive three years’ rigorous imprisonment, while coercing child marriages carries seven-year jail terms and Rs. 1 million fines. Parents facilitating such marriages risk three years’ hard labor, and child trafficking for marriage purposes attracts seven-year sentences.
The law mandates courts to halt suspected child marriages and complete trials within 90 days, classifying offenses as non-bailable. It also protects whistleblowers’ identities.
JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza demanded the bill’s referral to the Council of Islamic Ideology, calling it “un-Islamic.” Senator Rehman countered that the legislation protects children’s rights without conflicting with religious principles. JUI members, including Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, warned of societal “Westernization” and left the session in protest.
Supporters like ANP’s Aimal Wali Khan argued for distinguishing between forced and consensual early marriages, while PML-N’s Farooq Naik emphasized Pakistan’s legal adulthood benchmark of 18 years. The bill previously cleared the National Assembly and now awaits presidential assent.
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