PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday strongly opposed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, declaring plans for protest rallies across Pakistan. The law, which bans marriage below the age of 18 in Islamabad, aims to protect children’s rights and curb underage marriages but has faced significant resistance from religious groups.
Opposition Roots and Religious Concerns
The new law, signed by the president on May 27, has been condemned by Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other religious leaders for allegedly contradicting Islamic teachings. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), an advisory body on Islamic legal matters, ruled that classifying marriage under 18 as rape conflicts with Islamic law. Fazl criticized the legislation, claiming it makes “legitimate marriages difficult” while easing “fornication,” and accused the government of undermining the Constitution despite its guarantees.
He also pointed to previous amendments that he believes have weakened traditional values, urging the public to reject this new law as well. The JUI-F leader announced a series of rallies culminating in a major conference in Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on June 29, aiming to raise awareness on national sovereignty and Islamic governance alongside opposition to the law.
Underage Marriages and Legal Efforts
Underage marriage remains common in rural Pakistan due to poverty and lack of education, with about 21% of girls married before 18 according to a 2019 WHO report. Attempts to legislate a minimum marriage age of 18 at the federal and provincial levels have faced strong opposition. Previous bills introduced by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to ban child marriage failed to pass, facing resistance similar to the current law.
Sindh remains the only province with a child marriage restraint law enacted in 2013, while other regions continue debates influenced by religious and cultural factors.
