Representatives of civil society have urged the Sindh government to strictly apply the law on restraint of children’s marriage, warning that minor marriages remain endemic due to poor implementation. During a dialogue in Mirpurkhas, organized by the Hari Welfare Association, activists and those responsible for the persistence of practice. The event also marked the launch of a civil society forum at the level of the district focusing on the protection of children’s rights and the prevention of early marriages. The executive of the Hari Welfare Association, Akram Khaskheli, cited the data of the Sindh police showing that from 2018 to 2024, 272 FIR were recorded under the law, but only 30 convictions were obtained at 23 in Hyderabad and none in Karachi or Sukkur. He stressed that the figures underestimate the real scale of the problem. The deputy director of the social protection department said that the forum could fill the gaps between communities and state agencies.
Low conviction rate in children’s marriage cases
