Mohsin Naqvi meets Maulana Fazl to discuss national issues

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi held a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl group (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the country’s evolving political landscape.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the two leaders exchanged views on the prevailing national situation, with special focus on the rising tensions between Pakistan and India and the implications for regional peace.

During the meeting, Naqvi inquired about Maulana Fazlur Rehman's health and expressed his best wishes.

It is noteworthy that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a vocal critic of the legislation banning marriage below the age of 18, has launched a scathing attack on what he calls anti-Islamic lawmaking.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on June 1, 2025, the JUI-F chief said that no legislation contrary to the Quran and Sunnah could be accepted.

He declared that difficulties were being deliberately created for marriages under the age of 18 and announced a nationwide protest campaign to oppose the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025.

According to Fazlur Rehman, the bill has already been rejected by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), reinforcing the stance of religious parties against the proposed law.

“The requirement for marriage in Islam is not age but physical maturity,” Maulana Fazl stated. He accused the government of undermining Pakistan’s Islamic identity and warned that the JUI-F would never accept laws that contradict religious teachings.

He said the country's democratic institutions had failed to protect their legitimacy, alleging that legislation was now being driven by pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“In today’s Pakistan, the Constitution is being trampled, and we categorically reject such actions,” he declared.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani