KARACHI: To restrain solemnisation of child marriages, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has signed Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act- 2013, to be effective immediately.

According to the act, whoever, being a male above 18 years of age, contracts a child marriage shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years but shall not be less than two years and shall be liable to fine, said an official statement here on Wednesday.

It says that whoever performs, conducts, directs, brings about or in any way facilitates any child marriage shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years but shall not be less than two years and shall also be liable to fine unless he proves that he had reason to believe that the marriage was not a child marriage.

Where a parent or guardian or any other person in any capacity, lawful or unlawful does any act to promote the child marriage or permits it to be solemnised or fails to prevent it negligently from being solemnised, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years but shall not be less than two years and shall also be liable to fine.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the code, an offence punishable under this act shall be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

The court shall on taking cognizance of a case proceed with the trial and conclude the case within 90 days, the official statement says.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2014