Top Islamic court moved seeking permission for under-18 marriages in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – A petition has been filed in the Federal Shariat Court challenging the Punjab law that declares marriage under the age of 18 a criminal offence. The petition was submitted by Mufti Muhammad Aslam through his lawyer, Advocate Mudassar Chaudhry. The Governor of Punjab through the relevant secretary and other concerned authorities have been named as respondents in the case. The petitioner argued that provisions of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, including Section 2(D), Section 3 and other related clauses, are inconsistent with the Constitution. The petition stated that making marriage below the age of 18 a punishable offence is also against Islamic principles. The petitioner maintained that while the state has the authority to legislate for administrative matters and maintaining public order, it cannot interfere in matters related to Shariah. The petition requested the Federal Shariat Court to declare the provisions of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, including Sections 2(C) and 2(D), invalid. It also sought suspension of the implementation of the ordinance until the court gives its final decision. Earlier this year, the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026, which sets 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for both boys and girls and declared underage marriage a non-bailable offence.