Elopements and Our Legal Framework

According to a report published in Nawai Waqt on September 16, 2004, renowned legal expert MD Tahir has filed a writ petition with the Lahore High Court. The petition seeks a ban on love marriages and advocates for legislation discouraging elopement against parental consent. The aim is to protect parents from social stigma.

While Islam grants adult women the right to choose their spouses and prohibits forced marriages, the current legal framework regarding love marriages and elopements warrants review. The increasing number of girls fleeing their homes and marrying without parental consent, often followed by judicial approval, poses a threat to traditional family structures, just like the West.

While women should have the autonomy to make their own choices; elopement, hanging around without marriage, and subsequent marriage without parental involvement should not be encouraged. The Court must carefully consider this writ petition and issue a balanced judgment that aligns with Islamic values.

https://zahidrashdi.org/4705