A recently passed bill aiming to outlaw child marriage in Pakistan has ignited a wave of controversy after the country’s top Islamic advisory body denounced it as contrary to Islamic teachings.
The Child Marriage Restraint Bill, approved last week by lawmakers and awaiting the president’s signature, seeks to criminalize adult-minor relationships nationwide. Once enacted, the law will initially apply to Islamabad and could set a precedent for adoption by other provinces. Offenders may face up to seven years in prison and fines reaching one million Pakistani rupees (approximately $2,663 USD).
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However, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)—the constitutional body that advises Pakistan’s government on Sharia compliance—strongly opposed the measure. In a statement released Tuesday, the council argued that the bill clashes with Islamic values.
“Declaring marriages under the age of eighteen as abuse and introducing criminal penalties for such unions does not align with Islamic injunctions,” the CII stated. “The Council was neither consulted nor asked for a review by Parliament or Senate before the bill’s passage.”
The council further suggested that public education would be a more effective strategy than criminalization to reduce underage marriages.
Despite the religious council’s objections, the bill has drawn significant support from women lawmakers—some of whom have personal experiences with child marriage. Senator Naseema Ehsan, who was married at 13, passionately endorsed the legislation.
“Voting for this bill has been one of the most fulfilling moments of my career,” she told fellow senators. “While I was fortunate to marry into a caring and affluent family, many girls in Pakistan are not as lucky. This bill is crucial for their protection.”
Senator Sherry Rehman, who presented the bill in the upper house after its introduction by MP Sharmila Farooqi, emphasized its broader societal implications.
“This legislation sends a clear message—to the nation, to our international partners, and especially to our women—that their rights are being taken seriously,” Rehman said.
Research cited in support of the bill highlights the damaging effects of child marriage, particularly for young girls who face increased health risks once they reach puberty.
According to data from Girls Not Brides and the National Institute of Population Studies, nearly 18% of girls in Pakistan marry before turning 18, and 4% are wed before the age of 15. Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries globally for the highest number of child brides, with over 20 million women married before adulthood.
As the nation debates the legal and religious merits of the new legislation, advocates argue it marks a significant step forward in safeguarding children’s rights and pushing back against a longstanding cultural issue.
