ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) has passed a bill to ban marriages of children under the age of 18.
According to details, the new law declares the registration of marriages involving children under 18 as a legal offence. Under the bill, marriage registrars will not be allowed to register such marriages. The person conducting the marriage must confirm that both individuals have valid computerized national identity cards before proceeding.
The bill also states that anyone who conducts or registers a marriage without proper documents will face up to one year in jail, a fine of Rs100,000, or both. Marrying a girl under 18 has also been declared a crime. If a man over 18 marries a minor girl, he will face punishment under the law.
According to the bill, marrying a minor girl can lead to a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years of imprisonment with hard labor, along with a fine. Any sexual activity, with or without the minor’s consent, will be considered abuse.
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The bill also says that anyone who pressures, encourages, or forces a minor boy or girl into marriage will also be charged with abuse. Arranging such a marriage will result in five to seven years of jail, a fine of Rs1 million, or both.
The law further mentions that anyone who employs, shelters, or keeps a child for the purpose of marriage will face up to three years in jail and a fine. Parents or guardians involved in underage marriages will also face punishment.
Additionally, promoting, organizing, or forcing underage children into marriage will lead to up to three years of imprisonment with hard labor and a fine. Forcing a child to leave their area for marriage purposes will be treated as child trafficking. The punishment for this will be five to seven years in jail and a fine.
The bill also gives courts the power to stop any such marriages. Courts will be required to decide these cases within 90 days. The law will be applied immediately in the federal capital.
