By Admin 
Pakistan’s top religious leader and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has increased the problems of the Shehbaz Sharif government. By openly challenging the recently passed family law reforms, he has created a new political and social controversy.
While the Pakistan government is preparing to implement the Child Marriage Prevention Bill 2025 and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has lodged a strong protest against these laws. Under these laws, a provision has been made to ban child marriage in Pakistan.
Fazlur Rehman gave open challenge to the government
While addressing the National Assembly of Pakistani Parliament, Maulana Fazlur Rehman completely rejected the amendments made in family laws. He said that he will not accept the changes being made in the family laws of Pakistan under any circumstances. In an inflammatory statement, the JUI-F chief claimed that he would “openly violate” these laws to protest and also questioned the authority of the government to enforce them.
Threat to force marriage of children up to 10 years of age
Maulana Fazlur Rehman even said that he would personally help in the marriages of minor children in protest against the proposed child marriage ban. He said that he will protest against the government laws by getting 10, 12, 15 and 16 year old children married. After his statement, sharp reactions have emerged in the political and civil society of Pakistan.
Controversy increased after domestic violence law
This entire controversy deepened when Parliament passed the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2026 introduced by PPP MP Sharmila Farooqui. This bill faced strong opposition from the opposition benches including members of JUI-F. This law criminalizes physical, emotional and mental violence in homes.
What are the provisions in the new laws?
Under the new law, threatening the wife with divorce or remarriage, forcing her to live with others without her consent, or mentally torturing the wife, children and other family members has been made a punishable offence. In this Act, any person below 18 years of age, whether a boy or a girl, is considered a child. With this, the minimum legal age for marriage in the capital region of Pakistan has been fixed at 18 years.
The laws were declared unconstitutional by calling them religious matters.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed both the laws as ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ and said that they are against Islamic principles. He demanded that these bills be sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology for review. They say that Parliament does not have the right to make laws in matters which they consider to be religious matters.