LAHORE: A brand new ordinance promulgated by Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan on Wednesday declared youngster marriage a non-bailable offense and set 18 years because the minimal authorized age of marriage for each men and women, eliminating the earlier gender-based distinctions.
Up till now, the minimal authorized age for marriage in Punjab was 18 years for males and 16 years for girls below the Punjab Youngster Marriage Restraint Act, 1929.
This has modified with the promulgation of the Punjab Youngster Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, below which offenders may resist seven years in jail and fines of as much as Rs1 million.
The regulation comes into impact instantly throughout the province and was promulgated below Article 128(1) of the Structure because the Punjab Meeting will not be in session.
Underneath the brand new authorized framework, nikah khawans (marriage registrars) have been barred from registering youngster marriages and will face imprisonment of as much as one 12 months and superb of Rs100,000 in case of violations.
Equally, adults contracting marriage with a baby will face rigorous imprisonment of as much as three years however not lower than two years, in addition to a superb of as much as Rs500,000.
The ordinance additionally criminalises cohabitation ensuing from a baby marriage as “youngster abuse”, carrying penalties of 5 to seven years’ imprisonment and a minimal superb of Rs1 million.
It additionally introduces strict punishments for youngster trafficking linked to marriage and holds guardians accountable for selling or failing to forestall underage marriages.
It additional said that if a guardian or every other individual in any capability, lawful or illegal, dedicated any act to advertise youngster marriage, youngster abuse or permitted youngster marriage to be solemnised, or deliberately or negligently failed to forestall it from being solemnised, they are going to be punished with rigorous imprisonment between two to a few years and also will be liable to a superb of as much as Rs500,000.
All offenses below the ordinance have been declared cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, and can be tried solely by Courts of Session, with instances to be concluded inside 90 days.
In line with the assertion of objects and causes, the ordinance is aimed toward modernizing youngster safety legal guidelines in Punjab, eradicating gender discrimination in minimal marriage age, and strengthening authorized safeguards towards exploitation and abuse.
