President Zardari Enacts Landmark Law Banning Child Marriage in Islamabad 

On May 30, 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill into law, establishing 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage for both genders in the capital. The legislation, passed by both houses of Parliament, aims to protect children’s rights and eliminate underage marriages. It introduces strict penalties, including imprisonment, for those facilitating or engaging in child marriages. Despite facing opposition from religious groups, including the Council of Islamic Ideology, which argued the bill contradicts Islamic principles, proponents like PPP Senator Sherry Rehman and MNA Sharmila Faruqi emphasized its significance for human rights and child welfare. Rehman hailed the law as a milestone in Pakistan’s reform efforts and called on other provinces to adopt similar measures.