Lahore: The Lahore High Court has ruled that the marriage of a girl under the age of 18 is illegal, observing that living in a marital relationship with a minor would constitute child abuse even if the girl had consented.
Justice Munawar Iqbal Dogar issued an 11-page written order in a case concerning the marriage of a girl below the age of 18.
The court ordered an investigation into allegations of child marriage and a reportedly fake marriage certificate, while setting aside the decision of the Justice of Peace in Kasur.
The Lahore High Court also directed the SHO of Police Station B Division, Kasur, to register a case in accordance with the law.
According to the order, the question of the girl’s permanent custody will be decided by a guardian judge.
The court observed that marriage involving a girl below the age of 18 falls within the definition of child marriage.
It said a marital relationship resulting from a child marriage could carry a prison sentence of five to seven years, while child abuse could also result in a minimum fine of Rs1 million.
Justice Munawar Iqbal Dogar observed that a minor girl’s consent does not give her the legal right to live with an adult.
According to the court order, the girl in the case was approximately 15 years and two months old at the time of the alleged marriage. NADRA records show her date of birth as March 1, 2011.
The court refused to allow the girl to go with her alleged husband and ordered that she be placed in the safe custody of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau.
It further directed that meetings between the girl and her parents or alleged husband should only take place under supervision.
According to the case, the girl entered into a marriage of her choice on May 18, 2026. Her father subsequently registered a kidnapping case against the man, while the girl told a magistrate that she had married voluntarily.
However, the municipal committee informed the court that it had no record of the marriage.
The girl’s father later sought registration of a case on the grounds of child marriage. After police did not register the case, he approached the Justice of Peace.
The Justice of Peace dismissed the application, after which the petitioner challenged the decision before the Lahore High Court.
The court ruled that police cannot refuse to investigate allegations involving child marriage.
