KARACHI: Prerogative to set minimum age for marriage lies with state, Federal Shariat Court (FSC) ruled.

Court’s verdict came on petition filed by Ali Azhar, ex-husband of Arzoo Fatima, who had contracted free-will marriage after converting from Christianity to Islam at age of 13 in 2020.

Sindh High Court (SHC) declared her marriage invalid for being underage and sent her to shelter home in November 2020. Later, her ex-husband moved Shariat Court, challenging Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013, which prohibits marriage of any child under age of 18 years old.

Court, in its judgment turned down Azhar’s petition and ruled that state has right to set minimum age for marriage. State’s action was not “Contradictory” to Islamic laws, Shariat Court observed.

SHC in October 2021 dismissed petition that challenged Sindh Child Marriages Restraining Act 2013 terming it against injunctions of Islam and Constitution.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 07 2023

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