Passage of underage marriage bill condemned

LAHORE : Top leaders of the Milli Yakjehti Council (MYC), including President Sahibzada Abul Khair M Zubair and Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, have condemned the recently passed underage marriage bill, calling it un-Islamic and unconstitutional.

In a joint statement, the MYC leaders vowed to launch a nationwide protest in consultation with all religious parties, saying the government allegedly disregarded Islamic injunctions and constitutional values. The statement said that legislation ignoring the Shariah principles regarding puberty and the clear injunctions of the Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as the President of Pakistan's assent to such a bill, is in direct violation of the spirit of the Constitution.

“The government’s move to enact this law, despite the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC) declaring it un-Islamic, is deeply alarming. It reflects a dangerous disregard for a constitutional and religious institution whose mandate is to ensure that all legislation aligns with Islamic teachings,” the statement read. The MYC leaders warned that religious groups across the country would raise a strong voice against this unconstitutional and un-Islamic lawmaking, and vowed to mobilise nationwide protests if the decision is not reversed. They criticised the government and the presidency for ignoring the IIC’s formal objection, which deemed the child marriage bill incompatible with both the Qur’an and the Constitution of Pakistan. The MYC maintained that the government has a responsibility to address social and societal issues through planning and reforms, but not at the cost of overriding religious guidance and constitutional integrity. The council demanded that the government immediately withdraw the un-Islamic bill and urged the President of Pakistan to reconsider his approval, emphasising his role as the guardian of the federation and the Constitution. They also called on the federal government to halt any provincial-level legislation based on the controversial bill. Religious leaders announced that the message from pulpits and mosques across the country would remain firm in defending Constitution of Pakistan.