ISLAMABAD (PEN) : A petition has been filed in the Federal Shariat Court challenging the legality and religious validity of the Islamabad Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025, which sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 for girls.
The petition, filed by citizen Shehzada Adnan through Advocate Mudassar Chaudhry, names the Ministry of Interior and its secretary as respondents. It argues that the legislation violates Islamic principles and contradicts both the Constitution of Pakistan and Sharia law.
Petitioner: Law Conflicts With Quran, Sunnah
According to the plea, the bill was passed “against the injunctions of the Holy Quran, Sunnah, and Hadith.” The petition cites several Quranic verses and argues that the punishment prescribed — which includes *imprisonment with hard labour — is excessive and un-Islamic.
“The state has no right to criminalize what is not forbidden in Islam,” the petition reads. “The imposition of harsh punishments and legal restrictions on marriage violates the religious rights of citizens.”
The petitioner requested that the *Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2025 be declared null and void, and also sought a restraining order to prevent law enforcement from registering cases under the new law until the court’s decision.
New Law Signed by President Zardari
On May 30, President Asif Ali Zardari officially signed the bill into law following its approval by both houses of Parliament. The legislation, a private member’s bill, aims to protect children’s rights and aligns Pakistan’s laws with international human rights standards. It specifically applies to the Islamabad Capital Territory.
CII Also Opposes the Law
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has publicly opposed the legislation. In a statement issued after a recent meeting chaired by CII Chairman Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the council declared that setting a legal age limit for marriage contradicts Sharia.
The CII also rejected a similar bill introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that branding underage marriage as a form of abuse is not in accordance with Islamic teachings. The council emphasized that the federal legislature did not seek its input before proposing the legislation.
Background: Growing Push for Child Protection
The bill is part of a broader effort by lawmakers and civil society groups to combat child marriage in Pakistan. Supporters argue that raising the legal marriage age will help prevent child abuse, early pregnancies, and educational dropouts among girls. However, the initiative continues to face religious opposition, sparking ongoing legal and societal debate.
