LAHORE: Leaders of the Milli Yakjehti Council (MYC), including President Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair and Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, have condemned the recently passed child marriage law, calling it un-Islamic and unconstitutional.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the MYC leaders vowed to launch a nationwide protest in consultation with all religious parties, saying the government disregarded Islamic injunctions and constitutional values.

“The government’s move to enact this law, despite the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC) declaring it un-Islamic, is deeply alarming. It reflects a dangerous disregard for a constitutional and religious institution whose mandate is to ensure that all legislation aligns with Islamic teachings,” the statement read.

The MYC leaders warned that religious groups across the country would raise a voice against, what they termed, this un-Islamic lawmaking and vowed to hold nationwide protests in case the decision was not reversed. They criticised the government and the presidency for ignoring the IIC’s objection, which had opposed the child marriage bill.

The MYC maintained that the government had a responsibility to address social issues through planning and reforms but not at the cost of overriding religious guidance.

The council demanded that the government immediately withdraw the new law and urged the president of Pakistan to reconsider his approval, emphasizing his role as the guardian of the federation and the Constitution. They also called on the federal government to halt any provincial-level legislation based on the controversial bill.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025