LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, marriage of a girl below the age of 18 is illegal.
The court passed the order on a petition filed by Muhammad Aslam, seeking registration of a case against the alleged husband of his minor daughter, Hina Aslam. The court directed that Hina be kept at the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau and set aside an order of a Justice of Peace that had rejected the petitioner’s request for registration of a case.
It also directed police to conduct a fresh investigation into evidence allegedly indicating that the girl had been subjected to child marriage. The petitioner submitted that a case regarding the alleged abduction of his daughter had already been registered. He contended that fresh evidence of her underage marriage had emerged, warranting further legal action against those involved. The court observed that laws against child marriage were primarily intended to protect children’s rights, safety and welfare.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026