The Balochistan Assembly on Friday adopted the Child Marriage Prohibition Bill amidst strong protests by opposition members, who vowed to challenge it in court.
Under the bill, anyone caught marrying a girl under the age of 18 faces up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 200,000. The legislation also stipulates punishment for anyone who arranges or promotes child marriages and requires the nikah registrar and marriage officiant to ensure both parties hold computerized national identity cards. Any negligence on checking CNICs may result in a year’s imprisonment.
The presentation and passage of the bill trigged backlash from the opposition, who shouted slogans, encircled the speaker’s dais and tore copies of the bill. Speaking on the bill, Leader of the Opposition Younis Zehri of the JUIF said the legislation was against the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah and was being introduced merely to please a non-governmental organization. To this, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the Shariat Court was the highest authority on such matters and its judgement had already been conveyed.
In protest, Zehri tore up the agenda documents, with opposition lawmakers continuing their agitation throughout the voting process. However, the bill was approved with a majority.
Opposition MPA Asghar Tareen, also of the JUIF, said his party would challenge the bill in court.
Addressing media after the assembly session, Bugti said it was the provincial assembly’s constitutional right to legislate. “Legislation is the constitutional right of the government, and the provincial assembly exercised that right today,” he said, noting the bill passed with a majority and symbolized the strength of the democratic process.
Maintaining that protest was the democratic right of the opposition, Bugti affirmed that the government would keep all avenues of dialogue and negotiation open. He recalled that the bill had been under committee review for six months and was approved by the Balochistan Cabinet before being passed in the Assembly. He emphasized that the government prioritizes consensus-based legislation, ensuring every bill undergoes extensive consultation and transparent procedures.