Pakistan Anti-Child Marriage Bill Passes in Provincial Assembly

11/17/2025    (Morning Star News)

In a landmark move to protect children, especially girls, from forced marriages, a provincial assembly in Pakistan passed a new law that sets 18 as the legal age for marriage in Balochistan Province and introduces stern penalties for those involved in child marriages. Under the legislation, an adult male contracting a child marriage, and anyone who facilitates it, will face two to three years imprisonment and a fine. All officials who register marriages will be legally required to verify the Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) of both parties before registering a marriage. Failure to do so will be a criminal offense punishable by up to a one-year imprisonment and a fine. The accused cannot be released on bail. The law also declares child marriages void if the minor is kidnapped, sold, enticed, compelled or trafficked for marriage. Opposition lawmakers say the bill violates Islamic law and plan to challenge it in court.

Please pray…

• Praise God for this new law and the lawmakers who voted to approve it.

• Pray that this new law will be upheld if challenged in court and that the judges in charge of handling such cases will abide by the law and punish the men who kidnap and marry underage girls.

• Pray that this law will lead to an end in kidnappings of underage girls (most of whom are Christians) for marriage by Muslim men.