'Marry your own 6-year-old first': Azma Bokhari’s strong stand on child marriage bill hailed

“Marry your own 6-year-old first if you oppose this bill,” said Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari during a fiery speech in the provincial assembly that his since doing the rounds across social media.

Her remarks came during the debate on the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, which sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 for both males and females in Punjab, Pakistan. The bill marks a major legislative step aimed at curbing child marriage in the province.

In her address, Bokhari strongly questioned those opposing the legislation, asking whether they would be willing to marry off their own 10 or 11-year-old daughters. She also highlighted the serious health risks associated with underage marriage, particularly complications related to early childbirth.

“These are not goats or animals,” she said, stressing that children must be protected and treated with dignity under the law.

The speech quickly gained traction online, with clips circulating widely and drawing strong praise from netizens who applauded her direct and uncompromising tone. Many described her remarks as one of the most powerful defences of child protection legislation in recent times.

The passage of the bill has also been welcomed as a landmark decision in Punjab, with supporters calling it a long-overdue reform in Pakistan’s legal framework on child marriage.