Islamabad:
Friday, the National Assembly adopted a historic bill prohibiting children’s marriages in the territory of the capital of Islamabad (ICT), criminalizing the marriage of any individual under the age of 18.
The legislation stipulates strict sanctions for offenders, including parents, tutors, clerics and marriage registrars.
Under the bill, the registration of a marriage involving people under the age of 18 has been declared a criminal offense. The Nikah registrars will now be legally required not to record these weddings.
The law requires that any solemn person Nikah must verify the presence of computerized national identity cards (CNIC) of both parties before the registration or execution of the marriage ceremony.
The fact of not checking this documentation or proceeding with the solemn or the recording of a minor marriage will cause up to a year of imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 rupees, or both.
The bill also classifies the marriage of a girl under the age of 18 with an adult man as a punishable criminal investigation, with a rigorous imprisonment ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of three years, as well as a fine.
In addition, any sexual relations resulting from a marriage involving a minor, whether with or without consent, will be considered a statutory rape. Anyone who forces, attracts or forces a minor bride or grooming on marriage will also be legally treated as a sexual assault author, according to the bill.
Facilitating these weddings is now liable from five to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment, a fine of up to 1 million rupees, or both.
In addition, people who employ, house or take care of a child to facilitate a marriage will be liable to three years in prison with a fine.
