By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari signed a bill on Friday banning child marriage in the capital region, a move praised by rights advocates but slammed by religious leaders as an attack on Islamic law.
The new law, setting the minimum marriage age at 18, has triggered a fierce debate over tradition versus reform in Pakistan.
The legislation, which reached the president’s desk on May 27 and was formally assented to this week, seeks to safeguard young girls from early marriage, a practice long entrenched in parts of Pakistan. For advocates, the law marks a turning point in the country’s efforts to protect vulnerable children and align its policies with global human rights standards.
“The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025 is assented to, as passed by the Parliament,” read a notification from the Presidency, shared on X by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman.
Rehman called the bill’s approval a “milestone” in Pakistan’s legislative journey. “Pakistan has reached a milestone in the enactment of important legislation against child marriages,” she said in a statement, noting that the bill prevailed “despite resistance from various sections.”
She praised Zardari for standing firm “despite pressure” and framed the law as a “symbol of a new era of reforms in Pakistan.” “This bill is not just a law, it is a commitment that our girls have the right to education, health and a prosperous life.”
The senator also expressed gratitude to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, party leaders, opposition members, and the public for their support, describing the law’s passage as the result of “a long and difficult struggle.” She urged other provinces to follow Islamabad’s lead and adopt similar measures to curb child marriage nationwide.
Religious groups, led by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), have fiercely opposed the legislation, arguing that it clashes with Islamic principles.
Maulana Jalaludin, a CII member affiliated with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), had urged Zardari not to sign the bill, warning that it could unleash “anarchy in society.” He criticized the measure as “not only against the norms of Sharia but also contrary to the values of our society and our traditions,” suggesting it was part of a “western conspiracy to destroy the family system.”
Jalaludin also took aim at the legislative process, claiming the bill was rushed through parliament “in secrecy” without input from the CII, a body tasked with ensuring laws align with Islamic teachings. “The assembly cannot be above the Holy Quran and Sunnah,” he said, reflecting a broader sentiment among religious leaders from various sects who have rallied against the law.
PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqi, who introduced the bill in the National Assembly, sought to reframe the debate, insisting that child marriage should be viewed as a human rights issue rather than a religious one. “We are not against marriages,” Faruqi said. “We say marrying girls as young as 13 or 14 years is unfair when girls under 18 years of age do not have the right to vote, cannot obtain national identity cards and driving licence.”
She bolstered her argument by citing a 2022 Federal Shariat Court ruling that upheld the state’s authority to set the marriage age, a decision that provides legal grounding for the new law.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill applies only to the capital region, but its supporters hope it will inspire broader change across Pakistan, where child marriage remains a persistent challenge, often tied to poverty and limited access to education.
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