Balochistan passes child marriage law despite strong opposition from religious parties

The Balochistan Assembly on Friday passed the Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025 with a clear majority, despite fierce protests, slogan-shouting, and disruptions by opposition lawmakers. The landmark legislation, which criminalises child marriage and sets the minimum marriage age at 18, sparked intense debate on the assembly floor.

The protest began soon after Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai opened the session and presented the draft bill for consideration. Opposition members immediately surrounded the speaker’s podium, shouting slogans and tearing copies of the bill. Some members threw torn pages into the air, bringing the session to repeated stops.

JUI-F’s Leader of the Opposition Younis Zehri led the protest, declaring the proposed law “against Islamic teachings” and claiming it was being introduced to facilitate a non-governmental organisation.

In response, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti firmly rejected the allegation, asserting that the Federal Shariat Court, the country’s highest authority on such matters, had already issued its judgment supporting such legislation.

Despite persistent disruptions the bill was passed with majority votes. Opposition lawmaker Asghar Tareen later announced that the legislation would be challenged in court, insisting that the opposition would not accept what he called an “un-Islamic” law.

The dramatic scenes overshadowed other agenda points. Several issues, including delayed laptop distribution in Panjgur, funding for sports activities in Gwadar, and departmental queries, were addressed briefly, but three scheduled resolutions could not be presented due to the chaos.

The House also offered condolences on the deaths of Senator Irfan Siddiqui and Agha Siraj Durrani, while members paid tribute to security personnel martyred in recent terrorist attacks.

Later in the session, opposition leader Zehri accused the Planning and Development Department of providing misleading project information, urging the speaker to promise accountability in the next sitting.

Speaking to media afterward, CM Bugti defended the assembly’s action, calling the bill a sign of democratic strength. He said protest was the opposition’s right, but legislation remained the government’s constitutional responsibility.

Bugti emphasized that the bill had undergone six months of committee review and cabinet approval, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparent, consensusoriented lawmaking.

The session was adjourned until November 17.