‘Don’t force us to protest’: Fazl urges govt to halt child marriage legislation

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has asked the government to halt legislation on the Child Marriage Restraint Bill.

The National Assembly on Friday passed the landmark bill outlawing child marriages, declaring the solemnisation or registration of a marriage involving individuals under the age of 18 a criminal offence.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said that the bill had been introduced to ban the marriage of children under the age of 18.

“Is this the right time to introduce such a bill?” he questioned.

“Do not compel us to take to the streets in protest. Stop this legislation and refer it to the Council of Islamic Ideology. We cannot allow the current situation to be exploited in this way. Solidarity demands that such actions not be taken.”

“We are in need of unity at this time. Issue a ruling and halt this kind of legislation,” he urged.

Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Abdul Qadir Patel said the bill was first presented in the interior committee, and it was my suggestion that it be referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology.

According to the bill, nikah registrars will be legally bound to verify the ages of both parties through computerised national identity cards before registering a nikah. Failure to do so will result in penalties, including up to one year in prison, a fine of Rs100,000, or both.

The legislation explicitly states that marrying a girl under 18 — even with her consent — will be treated as a punishable crime. Men above the age of 18 who marry underage girls will face rigorous imprisonment of at least two years and up to three years, along with a fine.

The bill further declares that any sexual activity following such a marriage will be considered statutory rape. Anyone who facilitates, forces, or lures a minor into marriage will also be liable under rape-related charges.