The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that marriage involving anyone under 18 is illegal under Punjab’s Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026.
The decision came in a case involving a 15-year-old girl, Hina Aslam. Her father, Muhammad Aslam, had approached the court after new evidence emerged about her alleged underage marriage.
Justice Munawar Iqbal Dogar set aside an earlier decision by a Justice of Peace that had rejected the request to register a case. The court has now directed police to examine the new evidence and determine whether a criminal offence was committed.
The court also ordered that the girl be placed under the care of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau. Authorities were told to give priority to her safety, welfare and best interests.
The LHC noted that although a child’s wishes are important, they cannot automatically be treated as decisive because of the child’s age.
Punjab’s 2026 law sets 18 as the minimum legal age for marriage and provides penalties for those involved in underage marriages.
