NCRC rejects CII’s opposition to child marriage ban

Islamabad: In a hard-hitting rebuttal, the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC) has dismissed the Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) objections to the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025, declaring child marriage a “blatant violation of children’s fundamental rights” that sabotages education, health, and safety.

Legal & Islamic Mandate
“The state has both constitutional and religious obligations to end this practice,” stated NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq, highlighting Pakistan’s commitments under:

• UNCRC treaties requiring protection from exploitation
• Article 9 (right to life) and Article 25 (equality) of the Constitution
• 2023 Federal Shariat Court ruling upholding Sindh’s 18-year marriage age, noting Islamic jurisprudence ties puberty to “reasonable judgement” achievable only through completed education

Global Islamic Precedent
The Commission pointed to Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco — all Muslim-majority nations enforcing 18+ marriage ages — arguing Pakistan’s legislation aligns with progressive Islamic values of “compassion and justice.”

Uncompromising Stance
“Child marriage isn’t just illegal, it’s un-Islamic,” Farooq asserted, emphasising that the bill fulfills Pakistan’s dual duty to uphold children’s dignity while complying with Islamic principles of protection. The NCRC’s sharp condemnation signals escalating tensions between statutory rights bodies and ideological councils over legislative reforms.

The CII on Tuesday declared that any age-related restrictions on marriage and any suggestions to penalise the people on the issue were un-Islamic.

A declaration issued after a CII meeting chaired by Allama Raghib Naeemi also said declaring a marriage involving an individual of less than 18 years of age as child abuse was un-Islamic.

In this connection, the CII rejected a bill [[lslamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024] moved by Sharmila Faruqui, which sailed through the National Assembly earlier this month.

Read more: NA passes bill criminalising child marriage under 18

After the legislation was passed, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had asked the government to suspend the legislation, threatening to launch a protest.

“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.”