child marriage

SPARC State of Pakistan’s Children Report

“State of Children Report” is an annual publication produced by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), a non-governmental organization based in Pakistan. The report provides information on the situation of children in the country, covering various aspects such as health, education, violence against children, juvenile justice system, etc. The report is widely cited by…

Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 and Jinnah

The Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 was drafted by Quaid-i-Azam- Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Father of the Nation) and introduced by a Hindu, Rai Haridas Sarda, and is also known as the Sarda Bill. Jinnah was very concerned about the widespread child marriage in British India, which he considered a violation…

IHC Judgement on Child Marriage Case

Honourable Justice BABAR SATTAR of the The Islamabad High Court Issuing a…

Child Marriages – A Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Abuse

KARACHI: Despite being illegal, child marriages continue to affect millions of young…

Leadership Moot Calls for Raising Girls’ Minimum Age for Marriage to 18

Islamabad:At the inaugural plenary of the 18th Rural Women Leadership Training Conference held at Lok Virsa here on Wednesday, PODA leader Bismillah Iram said despite losing everything in the recent floods, the hopes and dreams of rural women in Pakistan remained unshaken. “With resilience, we stood firm to rebuild our…

Caucus Stresses Action on Child Protection

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly has underscored the collective responsibility of lawmakers to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for every child in Pakistan. The call was made during a session of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) at the Parliament House on October 12. The meeting, chaired by PCCR…

IHC Allows 15-Year-Old Girl to Live with Husband

The Islamabad High Court has allowed a 15-year-old girl to live with her husband, ruling that “while underage marriage is valid under Shariah, it is considered a crime under Pakistani law.” Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the detailed judgment in the case of Madiha Bibi, who had married of her…

12-year-old Married Girl Dies of ‘Suicide’

SHANGLA: A 12-year-old married girl ended her life by consuming poisonous substances in Damorai area here the other day. The deceased was married to her 10-year-old cousin six months ago. According to Shangla police spokesperson Umar Rehman, the incident occurred in the limits of Olandar police station in Damorai where…

LHC Rules Marriage is Valid if Person is Past Puberty, even below Legal Age

The Lahore High Court has ruled that under Islamic law, a marriage contracted after attaining puberty is valid, even if the individual is below the age set in the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929. In Punjab, the minimum marriage age is 18 for males and 16 for females. Justice Tariq Mahmood…

Conviction Rate Low in Child-Marriage Cases

HYDERABAD: Civil society representatives urged the Sindh government to strictly enforce the Child Marriage Restraint Act, warning that underage marriages remain rampant due to poor implementation. At a dialogue in Mirpurkhas, organised by the Hari Welfare Association, activists and officials expressed alarm over the persistence of the practice. The event…

Retired Major Accused of Domestic Abuse, Harassment

BADIN: A retired army major has been accused of subjecting his wife to years of domestic abuse and harassing her family through alleged false cases. At a press conference at the Badin Press Club, Ameer Haider — popularly known as Haidari Burger Wala — and his wife Shabana claimed their daughter, Muqaddas…

Afghan Teen Resists Forced Marriage

RAWALPINDI: Authorities have decided to deport a 16-year-old Afghan girl, Naushaba, and her mother back to Afghanistan after an attempted forced marriage in Rawalpindi failed. Police said the girl was brought from Afghanistan by an Afghan national, Male Khan, through Quetta’s Kuchlak route. He intended to marry her to his…

Theft of Childhood

LAST month, I travelled through Pakistan’s four provinces to oversee UNFPA projects and initiatives. I also engaged with partners to get their perspectives on development amid the recent geopolitical and funding challenges. During these visits, I connected with various partners, officials and intellectuals. One particularly moving — and painful —…

HRCP Shows Alarming Rise In Violence Against Minorities

LAHORE: The participants in a seminar at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on 19th September highlighted an alarming rise in violence against religious minorities during the last year. Launched at the seminar, the HRCP’s report, Streets of Fear: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2024/25, documents a deeply troubling year…

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