March 31, 2026
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
A protest and press conference were held at the Karachi Press Club by women’s rights and human rights organisations, including Minority Rights March, Aurat March, and the Minority Forum Pakistan, against the Federal Constitutional Court’s decision regarding Maria Shehbaz, a minor girl from Punjab.
The participants demanded a review of the verdict, expressing deep sorrow and anger over the ruling by the two-member bench. They stated that Maria Shehbaz is a victim of abduction and child marriage and now faces the risk of further serious harm. The court, they said, not only refused to place the girl in her father’s custody but also granted legal recognition to her marriage with the alleged abductor, despite child marriage being a criminal offence under the law.
The protesters warned that the ruling effectively undermines laws against child marriage and could have far-reaching consequences for minor girls across the country. They called on authorities to withdraw the decision and urged state institutions to act, warning of serious repercussions if no action is taken.
Speaking to Voicepk, Pastor Ghazala Shafiq said that the decision sets a dangerous precedent, implying that anyone could marry a minor and later seek validation from the courts by claiming the girl has reached puberty. She added that the ruling contradicts previous judgments, including those of the Federal Shariat Court, and could put not only minority girls but Muslim girls at risk as well.
Renowned artist and Aurat March organiser Sheema Kermani said the decision has created fear among women, religious minorities, and society at large. She noted that minority communities, in particular, feel increasingly unsafe and fear for the security of their daughters. She added that laws against child marriage were achieved after years of struggle, and the court’s ruling appears to undo that progress, effectively negating legislation passed by elected assemblies.
Advocate Luke Victor warned that such a decision could be misused to shield crimes like abduction or even rape under the cover of marriage. He stressed that the ruling must be reversed to protect the future of children in the country, adding that its impact extends far beyond a single case.
Maliha Zia, Director of the Legal Aid Society, highlighted that official records clearly establish the girl’s age, yet this crucial evidence was overlooked. She termed this a highly dangerous aspect of the judgment and questioned how victims could be expected to produce further proof. She also referred to a previous strong judgment by Justice Babar Sattar, saying this ruling undermines such precedents.
Sheema Maheshwari, a member of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, clarified that while freedom of religion is a fundamental right, coercion is unacceptable in any faith, including Islam. She questioned the contradiction in the ruling, stating that if child marriage is a crime, how can such a marriage be declared valid. According to her, the decision not only conflicts with existing laws but also defeats the very purpose of legislation.
NCJP condemns
Meanwhile the National Commission for Peace and Justice, also condemned the decision by FCC.
The Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference (PCBC) and the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) have both issued a joint statement expressing strong concern over the ruling by the Federal Shariat Court, which upheld the legal validity of the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl, Maria, to a Muslim man.
According to Maria’s father, Shehbaz Masih, his daughter was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married without consent. A NADRA certificate submitted by the family confirms that Maria was 13 years of age at the time of the marriage, well below the minimum legal marriage age of 18 under Pakistani law.
Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the PCBC and Chairperson of the NCJP, along with Rev. Fr. Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of the NCJP, and Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of the NCJP, warned that cases involving abducted Christian girls are being adjudicated in a manner inconsistent with the law of the land.
“Courts are not consistently applying legislation that prohibits the marriage of anyone under 18 years of age,” the joint statement read. “This selective application of the law is deeply troubling.”
The PCBC and NCJP stressed that while judicial independence must be respected, courts are equally obligated to ensure that allegations of forced conversion and underage marriage are investigated in a manner that is transparent, impartial, and fully consistent with both constitutional protections and international human rights standards.
The organizations called on the relevant authorities to review the ruling and uphold the rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of faith.