As per the law, a ‘Nikah Khawan’ is prohibited from solemnizing a marriage if either the bride or groom is below 18 years of age. Violations can result in one year in prison and a fine of one hundred thousand rupees.

If a man over the age of 18 marries a minor girl, he will be sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The bill to prohibit child marriage was presented in the National Assembly by Sharmila Farooqui, while in the Senate, the bill was presented by Sherry Rehman.

The law states that if the court becomes aware that a marriage of minors is being arranged, it will issue an order to prevent such a marriage. If the party informing the court wishes to conceal their identity, the court will protect them.

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It is worth mentioning that many religious scholars criticized this bill when it was presented in the National Assembly. Famous scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani condemned this proposal by stating “The bill regarding marriage under the age of eighteen, which was astonishingly rushed through Parliament, is not only completely contrary to the Quran and Sunnah but also unnecessarily opens the door to discord and debate at this sensitive time, equivalent to disregarding the interests of the nation and the community. The President should not sign it and it should be withdrawn.”

اٹھارہ سال سے کم عمر کی شادی کے بارے میں پارلیمنٹ سے جو بل حیرت انگیز جلدبازی میں منظور کرایا گیا ہے وہ نہ صرف یہ کہ قرآن وسنت کے بالکل خلاف ہے بلکہ بلاوجہ اس نازک موقع پر اختلاف اور بحث مباحثے کادروازہ کھول کر ملک وملت کے مفاد کو پس پشت ڈالنے کے مرادف ہے صدر مملکت اس پر دستخط نہ…

— Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Official) (@muftitaqiusmani) May 21, 2025