PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 May 2025
APPG for Pakistani Minorities Welcomes Historic Passage of Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025
London, UK — The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities warmly welcomes the signing of the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025 into law by President Asif Ali Zardari, marking a critical step forward in protecting the rights and futures of children across Pakistan.
This landmark legislation, now officially the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 (ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act), raises the legal age of marriage and introduces stronger penalties for violations. It is a decisive move to end the practice of child marriage—a longstanding issue that has disproportionately affected young girls, particularly from religious minority communities.
The Co-Chair of the APPG for Pakistani Minorities, Lord Alton, said:
“This is a monumental moment for human rights in Pakistan. We commend President Zardari and members of the National Assembly and Senate for their courage and commitment to protecting vulnerable children, especially girls, from the life-altering harm of early and forced marriages. The new law brings Pakistan in line with its international human rights obligations and represents a beacon of hope for the country’s future generations.”
Child marriage has long been a challenge in parts of Pakistan, exacerbated by social pressure, poverty, and weak legal enforcement. Minority communities, particularly Christians and Hindus, have frequently reported cases of forced conversions and marriages involving underage girls—often with little recourse to justice.
The APPG has consistently advocated for reforms to address these injustices and improve protections for minority communities. The enactment of this legislation represents a clear victory for civil society, human rights defenders, and all those who have campaigned tirelessly to protect children’s rights.
“We urge swift and consistent implementation of the Act at all levels of government, with special attention given to rural areas and minority populations who remain most at risk. We also urge the governments of other provinces of Punjab, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa to pass similar legislation to protect the vulnerable young girls. Having 18 as the age of marriage for both boys and girls throughout Pakistan – as the ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act does in Islamabad Capital Territory – would ensure consistency in the laws pertaining to marriage and in so doing comply fully with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, both conventions to which Pakistan is a state party [1]” added Lord Alton.
The APPG reaffirms its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s progress towards greater equality, justice, and protection for all its citizens, regardless of faith or background.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact:
Morris Johns
Secretary
APPG for Pakistani Minorities
Email: appgpakistaniminorities@gmail.com
Phone: + 44 7910 629864
[1] Joint general recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women/general comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2019) on harmful practices, CEDAW/C/GC/31/Rev.1 CRC/C/GC/18/Rev.1 8 May 2019 para 55(f).
