Islamabad Bans Child Marriage: A Historic Step for Girls’ Rights in Pakistan
Pakistan passes landmark bill setting minimum marriage age to 18 in Islamabad—offering hope for girls’ rights and nationwide reform.
In a defining moment for Pakistan, the Senate has passed a bill banning child marriage in Islamabad, setting the legal age for both boys and girls at 18. Senator Naseema Ehsan, who was married at 13, shared her painful experience to support the bill.
“I had complications during pregnancy because I was too young,” she said. “Most girls don’t get lucky with supportive families like I did.”
The new law replaces outdated colonial-era rules and introduces strict penalties—up to seven years in prison—for those who arrange or facilitate child marriages. It also defines underage marital sex as statutory rape.
Politicians and activists believe this bill could inspire provinces to adopt similar laws nationwide. Senator Sherry Rehman, who tabled the bill, called it “a powerful message that women’s rights matter.”
Despite resistance from conservative religious parties, civil society and rights groups see this as a long-overdue victory in the fight to protect girls from abuse, health risks, and denied education.
