The Punjab Assembly has introduced a bill to amend the 153-year-old Christian Marriage Act 1872, sparking criticism from Christian religious leaders and legal experts who say the proposed changes fall short of comprehensive reform. Minority Affairs Committee Chairman Falbous Christopher presented the amendment bill, which proposes raising the minimum marriage age for both men and women to 18 years.

Minority Affairs Committee Chairman Falbous Christopher presented the amendment bill, which proposes raising the minimum marriage age for both men and women to 18 years.

The current law allows marriage at 16 for boys and 13 for girls. The bill also requires both individuals to be Christian for a valid marriage, replacing the existing provision that allows marriage if one party is Christian.

While experts acknowledge the need to modernize outdated laws, they argue that the bill overlooks critical areas such as divorce, annulment, inheritance, child custody, and separation.

Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, said reforms were long overdue but stressed the importance of consulting churches and Christian communities before drafting legislation.

Religious leaders have also raised concerns about reduced involvement of the Church. Reverend Dr Majid Abel stated that only authorized clergy should solemnize Christian marriages to ensure compliance with religious principles.

Legal experts highlighted gaps in the proposed law. Samuel Payara noted that the bill lacks clarity on the religious nature of marriage, weakens safeguards like pre-marriage notices and objections, and does not include strict penalties for violations.

He also warned that the absence of systems like biometric verification could create identification and record-keeping issues.

Similarly, Rabeeca Niamat emphasized that existing divorce laws remain complex and require urgent reform.

In a related development, the Lahore High Court recently ruled that two years of separation can be considered grounds for divorce in Christian cases, marking a significant legal shift.

Critics maintain that while raising the marriage age is a positive step, broader, consultative reforms are essential to address longstanding legal and social challenges faced by the Christian community in Pakistan.

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