Islamabad, April 4 (IANS) Human rights lawyers and defenders have sharply criticised the recent judgement of Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court which upheld the marriage of a minor Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz, to a Muslim man accused of kidnapping her, while rejecting a habeas corpus petition filed by her father.

They described the ruling as “a missed opportunity to protect vulnerable individuals”, warning that it risks exacerbating inequality and fostering a climate of impunity, a report mentioned on Saturday.

According to the ‘Eurasia Review’ report, the human rights advocates called for accountability from all those involved in conversion and marriage-related cases, urging stronger procedural safeguards to verify age, consent, and free will.

They also stressed the need to uphold constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and equality before the law and announced plans to challenge the verdict through an appeal.

“On 29 July 2025, Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christian girl, was abducted in Lahore and subsequently subjected to forced conversion and coerced marriage. A re-investigation conducted on the directions of the Sessions Court found that the marriage certificate was fabricated, with the relevant union council confirming the absence of any official record. The Deputy Superintendent of Police restored the FIR and added further charges. Despite this, the Federal Constitutional Court awarded custody of the girl to her purported husband, effectively validating the marriage,” the report detailed.

The ruling, it said, disregards documented proof of her age, including her birth registration issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), as well as legal protections provided under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act and relevant High Court precedents.

Joseph Jansen, Chairperson of Voice for Justice in Pakistan, expressed serious concerns over the court’s reliance on “unverified claims of religious conversion” and its “acceptance of minimal evidentiary standards”.

“He warned that such reasoning risks legitimising coercion, manipulation, and abuse, particularly in cases involving minority girls. He stated that such verdicts undermine protections for minority communities and discourage victims and families from seeking legal remedies,” the report stated.

Prominent Pakistani lawyer Akmal Bhatti condemned the ruling, saying it raises serious concerns over due process and the effectiveness of safeguards against forced conversions and child marriages.

Another Pakistani human rights activist, Rukhsana Zafar, stated that such cases are not isolated incidents but reflect broader systemic failures in safeguarding vulnerable communities across Pakistan.

She added that “the fear of abduction and forced conversion continues to restrict women’s mobility and access to education within minority communities”.

–IANS

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