Islamabad:
The chief of Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, came out strongly against the recently promulgated Law of Restriction of Child Marriage Restrictions of Islamabad Territory of Islamabad, announcing a national protest campaign to “raise awareness” among the public.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, the Supreme JUI-F categorically rejected legislation, claiming that it undermined Islamic values and social norms by criminalizing the minor marriage while allowing extramarital relations.
“Pakistan is a strange country … During the time of General Musharraf, a constitutional amendment was approved on behalf of the rights of women who decriminalized sexual relations outside of marriage,” he said. “He took it out of the kingdom of sin.”
“Now, they are trying to prohibit the marriage of people under 18. The ICI has already rejected this and all the ulmas and their parties have agreed that it contradicts the Qur’an and the Sunnah,” he added, accusing the government of trampling constitutional guarantees.
Fazl announced that his party would launch a series of protest activities in response to the law, including demonstrations and an important public conference scheduled for June 29 in the Hazara division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“We will establish manifestations, but they will not focus on an issue, such as the al-Aqsa Mosque,” he said. “Now, we will organize demonstrations to raise awareness about national sovereignty and Islamic governance.”
“God wishes, we will present our position to the world freely. Islam is a faith that moves with the world and can be beneficial.”
The law, which was signed by the President on May 27 after its approval through both Chambers of Parliament, aims to prohibit child marriage in Islamabad by prohibiting marriages that involve people under 18.
