House also congratulated the Balochistan Assembly for passing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2025.
A file photo of the Sindh Assembly. PHOTO: IPP
KARACHI:
The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal and provincial governments to establish a uniform minimum age of marriage of 18 years for girls and boys across the country.
The resolution, proposed by PPP MP Maleeha Manzoor, received resounding support from Treasury and Opposition MPs, reflecting a rare cross-party consensus on a crucial human rights issue.
Lawmakers have welcomed President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent approval of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025, which legally sets 18 as the minimum age for marriage. The House also commended the Balochistan Assembly for passing the Child Marriage Prohibition Bill, 2025, adopting the same standard and criminalizing child marriage across the province.
The resolution proudly recalls that Sindh became the first province to legislate against child marriage through the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013, underlining its long-standing commitment to the dignity, welfare and protection of children, especially girls.
Addressing the House, Manzoor praised the PPP leadership for spearheading these progressive reforms at the provincial and federal levels.
The resolution also reiterated Pakistan’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), emphasizing that a uniform definition of child is essential for equal protection in all provinces. “A child remains a child regardless of province or region, and uniform legislation is not just a legal necessity – it is a moral and constitutional responsibility,” Manzoor added.
The House reaffirmed that harmonization of child marriage laws nationally is crucial to uphold constitutional guarantees, honor international commitments and ensure the physical and mental well-being of every child. The assembly urged other provinces to adopt similar legislation without delay to help eliminate child marriage across Pakistan.
JI resolution on law and order rejected
The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday rejected a resolution moved by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) seeking a debate on what it called the “deteriorating law and order situation” in the province, even as the House approved other opposition-backed resolutions, including one demanding a public holiday on the death anniversary of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and another against the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco). The session, chaired by Vice President Naveed Anthony, marked Members’ Day, allowing non-government lawmakers to table resolutions.
JI’s Muhammad Farooq, while presenting his resolution, warned that citizens were living in fear and urged the government to restore public security. “Crime is increasing and people don’t feel protected,” he said.
