President Asif Ali Zardari has officially enacted the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, setting the legal minimum age for marriage at 18, despite objections from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and other conservative factions.

Under the newly passed law, a “Nikah Khawan” is prohibited from solemnizing a marriage if either party is under 18. Violating this provision can result in up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100,000.

Furthermore, any man above the age of 18 who marries a minor girl could face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment.

The legislation was originally introduced in the National Assembly by MNA Sharmila Faruqi and later presented in the Senate by Senator Sherry Rehman.

The law also empowers courts to intervene and issue orders to stop a child marriage if such a union is imminent. Additionally, if the complainant wishes to remain anonymous, the court is mandated to ensure their identity remains protected.

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However, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has publicly rejected the bill, labeling it contrary to Islamic teachings. A statement released earlier this week said that during a meeting chaired by Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the CII unanimously declared that setting 18 as the minimum marriage age and criminalizing marriages below this threshold did not align with Islamic principles.

The CII further criticized the legislative process, noting that the bill was passed without seeking the council’s input or review.