A recent Gilani poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan shows that a higher number of Pakistanis (41%) believe that parents should allow their children to marry someone of their own choice, while 31% said they should not be allowed. Twenty eight percent (28%) claimed that it all depends on the situation. The data reveals that boys tend to get more support for love marriage as compared to their female counter parts. It must however be noted that concepts like 'marriage by choice' are strongly influenced by customs and traditions and 'love marriage' may not necessarily be the term that captures the meaning of our respondents. It is our approximation, open for debate. According to analysts at Gallup Pakistan, opposition to 'marriage by choice' may not be so stark as it seems and may connote an opposition to choice which is disapproved by the family. Similarly support for choice may also not be so open-ended as to endorse defiance of views of other family members. The findings of the survey should be read in that context.

The recent Gilani poll was conducted in Pakistan by Gallup Pakistan, affiliated with Gallup International Association, among a sample of 2754 men and women from rural and urban areas of all four provinces of the country during June, 2009.