Islamabad High Court sets marriage age limit at 18


The Islamabad High Court has banned the marriage of children under the age of 18.
 
The court made the ruling in relation to the underage marriage bill, but did not rule on the age of puberty. 
 
Under the ruling, anyone under the age of 18 will be prohibited from getting married and will also not be permitted to become a witness to a marriage ceremony. 
 
In April 2019, the Senate passed a bill to amend the child marriage restraint act 1929.
 
According to the amendment, marriage under 18 is punishable by a fine of Rs200,000 and three years for those who facilitate the marriage. 
 
Sherry Rehman presented the bill, but  Senator Ghafoor Haidri raised an objection saying it should be sent to the Islamic Ideology Council (IIC) for further deliberation.
 
After a debate on the bill it passed with five opposition votes.