Uzma Bukhari terms early marriages harmful, stressing that young girls should be allowed to complete their education
Punjab Assembly. PHOTO: FILE
The Punjab Assembly passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by a majority vote on Monday following a detailed and heated debate between treasury and opposition members, alongside key legislative business and a question hour session.
The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began with a delay of 53 minutes. Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari termed early marriages harmful to girls’ health and education, stressing that young girls should be allowed to complete their education rather than being married off prematurely.
During the proceedings, Uzma raised strong concerns, stating that for the first time, members were not provided copies of the bill. She stressed that it was essential for all lawmakers to have access to the draft legislation before its passage.
On her complaint, the speaker directed that copies of the bill be immediately distributed among members.
Read More: Punjab amends child marriage law
Speaking on the bill, Uzma emphasised that early marriages were harmful to young girls, arguing that proper documentation, such as national identity cards or birth certificates, should be mandatory for marriage.
She noted that the legal age of marriage, previously 16, was now being raised to 18.
The debate intensified when Treasury member Zulfiqar Ali Shah proposed that individuals under 18 seeking marriage should be allowed to do so with court permission, warning against placing legislation above societal values.
His remarks drew a strong response from Uzma, who argued that young girls often lacked the awareness and maturity required for marriage and should not be subjected to such practices.
Uzma further stated that both mental and physical maturity must be ensured before marriage and criticised practices where young girls were forced into marriages under social or cultural pressures.
She also referenced support from the Federal Shariat Court for similar legislation passed by the Sindh Assembly.
Following extensive debate, the bill was approved by a majority vote. The session concluded after the passage of the bill, reflecting deep divisions yet eventual consensus on legislative action against child marriage.
During proceedings, Provincial Minister for Minerals Sher Ali Gorchani alleged that during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, large tracts of pink salt land were allotted to favoured individuals through amendments in rules, claiming that up to 100,000 acres were distributed.
Also Read: Child rights: Sindh makes marriage under 18 punishable by law
Opposition member Iqbal Khattak raised concerns over checkpoints in his constituency, stating that citizens were being harassed in the name of checking.
On April 14, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Local Government and Community Development set 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls across the province, abolishing the earlier provision that had permitted girls to marry at the age of 16.
The committee unanimously approved a bill to curb child marriages and strengthen child protection laws in the province.
It further declared child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence, enabling immediate police action and preventing any private settlement of such cases.
Under the proposed law, any person involved in facilitating child marriage, including the adult spouse, parents or guardians, Nikah registrars, or any other facilitator, may face up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 million.
The law also categorised cohabitation after such a marriage as child abuse, carrying stricter punishment, and directs that all such cases be decided by the courts within 90 days.
