ISLAMABAD: Political and human rights activists have welcomed the passage of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, terming it a historic legislation.

In their separate statements, President of the Human Rights Cell of the Pakistan Peoples

Party (PPP) Farhatullah Babar and Executive Director of Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) Rural Women Network Pakistan Sameena

Nazir said the passage of the bill was a long overdue step towards strengthening the protective legal framework for vulnerable girls.

Mr Babar said for years, minority communities, especially Hindus and Christians living in Sindh, had been raising concerns over the abduction of underage girls, their forced conversion, and subsequent marriages in Punjab.

These practices, he said, continued due to the absence of a uniform minimum age for marriage in all provinces even though Sindh had passed this legislation several years ago but its purpose was defeated as girls were brought to Punjab and married off.

For the minorities, he said, it was a triumph of their long struggle and for the girls and women of Pakistan, it was a step toward affirming their dignity.

He said underage marriage was not a “societal value” as claimed by some segments of the society.

“Harmful practices, if existed in a society, cannot be made an excuse to perpetuate a grave injustice.

It is unjust and cruel to make young girls bear the burden of such injustices.

There have been shameful instances where minor girls were used to settle disputes,” he said, adding: “childhood cannot be bartered away under the guise of customs.”

The provision in the bill which places ‘the best interests of the child’ at the heart of all legal proceedings, from investigation to sentencing and protective custody is particularly welcomed as well as the provision that no child shall be treated as an offender merely for being party to a child marriage.

These are highly significant provisions in the interest of vulnerable, he said.

He said in the past, courts had relied on claims of “willing consent.” This loophole, he said, had also been closed as a child’s purported “consent” shall not override evidence of coercion and enticement.

“What is needed now is to implement this legislation. Pakistan does not suffer from a lack of laws but suffers from a lack of enforcement,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to a statement, a delegation of prominent women leaders representing various districts of Punjab and representing PODA Rural Women Network Pakistan had attended the Punjab Assembly session on April 27, during which the Child Marriage Restraint Act, Punjab, 2026 was approved.

Executive Director PODA Sameena Nazir appreciated the Punjab Assembly speaker and women MPAs who strongly supported the law.

“This landmark legislation would enable millions of girls to pursue higher education, develop confidence and skills, and build stronger, more secure foundations for their future families,” she said.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026