JUI-F chief challenges govt, calls under‑18 marriage law un-Islamic in Parliament
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has openly challenged the government over legislation restricting marriages under the age of 18, calling the law un-Islamic and unconstitutional.
Addressing a joint session of Parliament, Fazlur Rehman declared that he would deliberately violate the law and arrange marriages of underage individuals, including minors as young as 10 years old. He said the legislation should have been referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology instead of being imposed under what he termed international pressure.
The JUI-F leader warned that such laws would not be allowed to operate in Pakistan, questioning whether the country remains an “Islamic Republic” or is being reshaped to meet UN and IMF conditions. He accused the government of bypassing Parliament and cabinet consultation on major national decisions.
Fazlur Rehman also strongly criticized Pakistan’s participation in international peace initiatives involving the United States and Israel, alleging that former U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening Hamas and empowering Israeli aggression. He warned that disarming Hamas would weaken Palestinian resistance and accused the Islamic world of following foreign agendas under the guise of peace.
He concluded by asserting that he has opposed dictators in the past and would not hesitate to confront the current leadership, stating that Pakistan’s sovereignty, ideology, and democratic process must not be compromised.
