Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s announcement to protest against the child marriage bill has sparked widespread discussion online.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill into law, setting the minimum age for marriage at 18 years.The new legislation criminalises the solemnisation of marriages where either the boy or girl is underage.
In response, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday announced a nationwide protest against the government’s proposed legislation aimed at restricting child marriages, arguing that the bill contradicts Islamic teachings and threatens Pakistan’s religious identity.
Many users criticised the move, questioning why such a stance was being taken on an issue concerning child protection.Numerous users criticised religious leaders for opposing a law aimed at protecting minors. One user remarked that these groups have never protested against child abuse but are enraged by the child marriage bill.
Others emphasised the importance of confronting religious conservatives who are using religion to justify child marriages, warning that failure to resist would only embolden such views further.Several voices on social media called for organised counter-protests by the rational and progressive segments of society to stand up against the protesters opposing the bill.
Users argued that defending children’s rights should be a non-negotiable priority and expressed strong support for the new law, highlighting that early marriage often leads to severe health, psychological, and social consequences for children, especially girls.
Under the new law that banned the underage marriage of boys and girls alike, violators face up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs100,000, while a man over 18 marrying an underage girl may face rigorous imprisonment of up to three years. Courts are also empowered to intervene and protect the identities of those reporting such cases.
Despite the bill’s clear intent to safeguard children from exploitation, it has faced fierce opposition from religious political parties and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) .
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly criticised the CII for raising objections to the recently passed Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, calling the move a serious attempt to hinder vital child protection legislation.
