Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday strongly opposed recent legislation aimed at protecting children from child marriages and safeguarding the rights of the transgender community.
On November 13, the National Assembly passed a bill, awaiting Senate approval, to protect people against domestic violence in Islamabad.
A day later, the Balochistan Assembly adopted a bill to ban child marriages with a majority, despite protests by opposition lawmakers, including JUI-F’s Younis Zehri.
In September, Balochistan cabinet approved the province’s first-ever transgender policy to ensure social and economic inclusion for the community.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, Fazlur Rehman said, “Some legislation has been enacted regarding the marriage of children below the age of 18 years, regarding transgenders, and regarding domestic violence.”
Speaking about child marriages, Fazl questioned labeling those under 18 as “na-baaligh” (minors), asking which sect’s Islamic laws states this.
He questioned, “Strengthening the law to the point that if a marriage or nikkah is done before 18, it will be called sexual abuse and will be interpreted as rape, and a punishment will be given accordingly?”
He also criticised the Protection of Women Bill 2006, introduced during Gen Pervez Musharraf’s rule to amend the widely criticised Hudood laws.
Fazl said, “The PPP had voted in favour of that bill, and today as well, hindrances were being created in the way of permitted nikkah.” The PPP is currently in power in Balochistan, where the recent anti-child marriage bill and transgender policy were introduced.
Fazl described it as a “weird point” and a “joke” that although child marriages would be considered rape, a child born out of it would remain legitimate. “And the father will be bound to pay for its expenses,” he added.
Regarding the transgender legislation, he questioned the justification for individuals born as a “complete male or a complete female” being allowed to change their gender.
“Perhaps, they do not even have as much freedom in the West as we have given them here in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he said.
Fazl said he did not “expect” such decisions from the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his party PML-N.
He alleged that the new laws followed an “agenda” of the United Nations and described international rights conventions as “slavery.”
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2025 aims to establish an effective system of protection, relief, and rehabilitation for women, men, transgender persons, children, and other vulnerable individuals against domestic violence.
It provides jail terms ranging from six months to three years and a fine of up to Rs100,000 if the offence does not fall under the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Pakistan is home to over 19 million child brides, with nearly one in six young women married before the age of 18.