ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025—which sets the minimum marriage age at 18—as un-Islamic. The legislation, recently passed by the National Assembly and Senate, was criticized by the CII for conflicting with Islamic injunctions.
In a statement released following a meeting chaired by Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the CII emphasized that clauses defining marriage below 18 as child abuse and prescribing punishments do not align with Islamic teachings.
While acknowledging the issues related to underage marriages and recommending discouragement of the practice, the council collectively rejected the bill. The CII also noted that the bill had not been referred to them for review prior to its passage.
Similarly, a draft of a comparable bill from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was found to contradict Islamic principles by the council.
The meeting addressed other key topics, including the stance that Thalassemia screening before marriage should remain optional rather than mandatory. The CII stressed, “In light of Islamic teachings, no complications should be involved in the process of Nikah,” suggesting that awareness campaigns could better address health concerns.
Members also raised concerns about irresponsible media reporting on court decisions, particularly relating to Lahore High Court rulings on Khula (divorce).
Regarding dowry, the CII reaffirmed that demanding or forcing dowry contravenes Islamic injunctions and urged parents to base decisions on marriages and related rituals on Islamic teachings.
Responding to a Supreme Court query, the council stated that it should be a woman’s discretion whether to change her domicile to her husband’s native district after marriage or retain her original domicile.
In addition, the CII formed committees tasked with reviewing the Auqaf department’s effectiveness and drafting a comprehensive Muslim Family Laws bill. The council proposed amendments to clause 7 of the Muslim Family (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and clarified that a divorced woman cannot claim “Nan Nufqa” after completing her “Iddat period.” The CII also dismissed the concept of Matrimonial.
