President Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill into law, marking a significant step towards protecting children’s rights in Pakistan.

The bill, which passed through both houses of parliament on May 27, sets a minimum age of 18 for marriage.

The move has been met with both celebration and opposition. Supporters, including PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, hailed it as a victory for women and children’s rights, achieved despite significant resistance from religious groups. Rehman emphasized the bill’s importance in ensuring girls’ access to education, healthcare, and a better future.

“This bill is not just a law, it is a commitment that our girls have the right to education, health and a prosperous life,” Rehman wrote on X. She also called for provinces to enact similar legislation.

However, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) voiced strong opposition, arguing that classifying marriage under 18 as rape contradicts Islamic law. CII member Maulana Jalaluddin expressed concerns about the bill’s potential to disrupt societal norms and described it as a Western conspiracy.

However, PPP leader Sharmila Faruqi, who moved the bill, has opposed attempts to give the bill a ‘religious colour’.