July 10, 2026
Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Civil society groups in Pakistan, especially those working on rights of religious minorities, have welcomed the European Parliament’s recent resolution condemning the persistent pattern of abductions, forced conversions and child marriage, affecting underage minority girls in the country. Describing the resolution as an expression of international solidarity with victims and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), child sexual abuse, and religion-based discrimination, groups urged Pakistani authorities to enact comprehensive legislation that clearly criminalizes coerced faith conversion as a distinct offence, with strict penalties for perpetrators and accomplices.
The European Parliament’s resolution brings up and strongly condemns the court’s verdict in the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old girl from Lahore who was abducted in July 2025 and coerced into conversion and marriage to her abductor. The European Parliament called upon the Government of Pakistan to ensure the immediate protection of Maria Shahbaz, provide her with independent legal representation, psychological support and access to her family, and conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial review of Maria Shahbaz case in accordance with due process and the best interests of the child, and applicable child protection laws.
The resolution further urged Pakistan to investigate all allegations of forced conversion and child marriage involving minors and coercion independently, prosecute perpetrators and accomplices, ensure the safe return of abducted girls, strengthen judicial capacity to deal with such cases free from intimidation or external pressure, and fully implement legislative measures to eliminate child marriage across the country.
Chairman of minority rights group, Voice for Justice, Joseph Janssen said that the Federal Constitutional Court’s verdict in cases like Maria Shahbaz’s may have far-reaching implications for future cases involving child marriage, forced religious conversion and the protection of minority girls.
“The court’s decision risks setting a dangerous judicial precedent that weakens legal safeguards for children and religious minorities,” he said. “If allowed to stand, it may encourage perpetrators to continue exploiting vulnerable girls through fabricated documents, coercion and misuse of legal processes.”
Advocate Akmal Bhatti said that the case of Maria Shahbaz is fundamentally about a child-protection issue rather than a question of religion. Child protection laws exist to protect children from exploitation irrespective of religion. Courts must determine age, legality, and consent before validating any alleged marriage. He added that the review petition provides the court a crucial opportunity to correct this injustice and reaffirm Pakistan’s constitutional and international obligations to protect children.
Prominent activist from Faisalabad, Lala Robin Daniel said that no child should lose their freedom, identity, or future through abduction, coercion, or forced conversion.
“The conversion and marriage of underage minority girls destroys childhood, violates freedom of religion or belief, and represents a grave denial of fundamental rights.” he said. “The validation of child marriage based on forged documents and minors’ coerced statements represents a miscarriage of justice. He urged that federal and provincial child marriage restraint acts must be effectively enforced, and judicial proceedings involving underage minority girls must be conducted free from intimidation, coercion or undue influence.”
Meanwhile, an event titled “The Lack of Protection of Minor Girls in Pakistan,” organized by Jubilee Campaign and hosted by the European People’s Party (EPP) Group and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels on 14 July 2026. Speakers will include Matej Tonin MEP, Bert-Jan Ruissen MEP, Sulema Jahangir Advocate, Ann Buwalda, Anna Townsend, Joseph Janssen, Prof. Dr. Shahid Mobeen, and Carmen Correas.
Apart from the above developments, a review petition challenging the Federal Constitutional Court’s judgment in Maria Shahbaz’s case remains pending before the Court.
The petition raises serious concerns, arguing that the Court exceeded its constitutional jurisdiction by making determinations on matters that fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Shariat Court under Article 203-G of the Constitution. It further contends that the judgment relied upon legal precedents that have subsequently been overtaken by the Federal Shariat Court’s decision in Ali Azhar v. Province of Sindh, which affirmed the compatibility of child marriage legislation with Islamic injunctions and reinforced legal protections against child marriage.
In addition, the petition challenges the Court’s reliance on outdated jurisprudence suggesting that child marriages remain legally valid despite statutory prohibitions, arguing that such reasoning is inconsistent with recent constitutional and Islamic legal developments and undermines the purpose of child protection legislation.