LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has passed new legislation aimed at eliminating child marriage, setting 18 as the minimum legal age for both men and women to marry in the province.
Under the proposed law, no Nikah can be legally conducted unless both individuals have reached 18 years of age. The bill also provides legal protection for minors subjected to forced marriages, allowing courts to intervene and safeguard affected children.
The legislation categorizes child marriage as a criminal offense, with such acts to be prosecuted under criminal law and treated as a form of abuse. Individuals found marrying a minor could face up to three years in prison along with a fine of Rs500,000.
The law also imposes stricter penalties in cases where minors are taken outside Punjab for marriage, with offenders facing up to seven years in jail and a fine of Rs1 million.
Parents, guardians, and Nikah registrars are also held accountable under the bill. Guardians involved in underage marriages may be sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined Rs500,000, while those conducting or registering such marriages could face at least one year of imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000.
The bill will come into effect after receiving final approval from the Governor of Punjab. Once enacted, it will replace the longstanding Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.
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