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ISLAMABAD: A legal challenge to Punjab’s recently enacted law criminalising marriages involving individuals under the age of 18 has moved forward after the Federal Shariat Court cleared procedural objections and directed that the petition be fixed for hearing. The petition, filed by Mufti Muhammad Aslam through his counsel Mudassar Chaudhry Advocate, questions key provisions of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026. The Governor of Punjab, through the provincial secretary, and other relevant authorities have been named as respondents in the case. According to the petition, Sections 2(d), 2(c) and other provisions of the law are inconsistent with the Constitution and Islamic principles. The petitioner argues that declaring marriages involving individuals under the age of 18 as a criminal offence is contrary to Shariah and contends that the state has no authority to interfere in matters governed by Islamic law. The petitioner has requested the court to declare the provisions prescribing criminal penalties for under-18 marriages unlawful and strike down the disputed sections of the Act. The plea also seeks a stay on the implementation of the law until the Federal Shariat Court reaches a final decision. The case had initially faced a procedural objection because it challenged an ordinance that has since been passed by the Punjab Assembly and enacted as law. After the legislation was formally approved, the petitioner amended the plea to challenge the Act instead of the ordinance and resubmitted it before the court. Following the amendment, the Registrar of the Federal Shariat Court removed the objection and ordered that the matter be scheduled for hearing before the bench. The upcoming proceedings are expected to attract significant legal and public attention, as they concern the interpretation of child marriage laws, constitutional provisions and Islamic jurisprudence. The court’s eventual ruling could have important implications for the implementation of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 and the broader debate surrounding the legal age of marriage in Pakistan. Until the court hears the matter, the law remains in force unless a stay order is granted during subsequent proceedings.

Sindh Home and Law Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has strongly rejected allegations made by former federal minister Miftah Ismail regarding police recruitment in the province, calling the claims baseless and politically irresponsible. Responding to Miftah Ismail’s statement, Lanjar said President Asif Ali Zardari represents all federating units of Pakistan and should not be portrayed as the representative of a single province, language or ethnic group. He added that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a truly federal political party, and attempts to associate the president with a particular region undermine national unity. The provincial minister said all government recruitment in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, is conducted in accordance with established laws, the quota policy and merit. He maintained that the Sindh Police is a professional, impartial institution committed to merit-based recruitment. Lanjar further said the Sindh government does not believe in discrimination on the basis of language, ethnicity, region or community, and remains committed to providing equal opportunities to all citizens. He urged Miftah Ismail, as a senior political leader, to avoid making unsubstantiated allegations or statements that could fuel ethnic divisions. He said that if Miftah possesses evidence regarding any irregularity in police recruitment, he should present it before the relevant legal or administrative forum instead of making general accusations. The Sindh home minister also called on Miftah Ismail to clarify and withdraw what he described as an irresponsible statement that was contrary to the facts.

MULTAN: Flight operations at Multan International Airport have increased, with the airport recording a new daily high of 37 flights on Wednesday. According to the flight schedule, 449 flights were operated across Pakistan during the past 24 hours, while 68 flights were cancelled and 112 flights faced delays of up to seven hours. Of the 37 flights operated at Multan airport, 18 arrived and 19 departed, marking the highest number of daily flight operations recorded at the airport. The schedule showed that 135 flights were operated from Karachi, 118 from Islamabad, 105 from Lahore, 17 from Peshawar, 15 from Sialkot and 12 from Faisalabad. Flight delays were also reported at several major airports. Karachi recorded delays involving nine flights, while Lahore and Islamabad each reported 33 delayed flights. Multan had eight delayed flights, Peshawar six, Sialkot eight, Faisalabad nine and Quetta six. A number of flights were also cancelled during the same period. Karachi recorded 20 cancellations, Lahore 21, Islamabad 12 and Multan three. Peshawar, Faisalabad and Sialkot each recorded two cancelled flights, while six flights were cancelled at Quetta airport. The latest figures indicate increased flight activity at Multan International Airport, with the 37-flight total setting a new daily record for the southern Punjab city’s airport.