Islamabad: The Human Rights Cell of the Pakistan Peoples Party has welcomed the passage of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, describing it as a significant advancement in the legal protection of vulnerable girls. The legislation has been hailed as a necessary measure to address longstanding issues related to the marriage of underage girls, particularly among minority communities.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, Ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar, President of the Human Rights Cell, emphasized that minority communities, including Hindus and Christians, have consistently raised concerns about the abduction and forced marriage of underage girls. The absence of a uniform minimum age for marriage across provinces has been a contributing factor, despite Sindh’s earlier legislative efforts. The new bill is seen as a victory for minority groups and a reinforcement of previous legislation.
Babar noted that underage marriage should not be considered a societal norm and condemned practices that exploit young girls. He highlighted provisions in the bill that prioritize the child’s best interests in legal proceedings and prevent children from being treated as offenders in cases of child marriage. The bill also addresses the issue of “willing consent,” closing a loophole that previously allowed coercion under the guise of consent.
The passage of the bill is seen as an endorsement of the Sindh Assembly’s decade-old legislation on the minimum age for marriage. Babar stressed the importance of implementing the new law, noting that Pakistan’s challenge lies not in the absence of laws, but in their enforcement. He also called for improved documentation practices, such as the issuance of national identity cards and birth certificates, to safeguard against age-related manipulation and abuse.