Human rights lawyers and defenders strongly condemn the recent judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan, which upheld the validity of a marriage involving a Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz, and dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by her father. They termed the ruling a missed opportunity to protect vulnerable individuals, saying that it risks deepening inequality and reinforcing a climate of impunity. On July 29, 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 Constitution Court awarded custody of the girl to her purported husband, effectively validating the marriage. This decision disregards documentary evidence of her age, including her birth registration issued by NADRA, as well as applicable legal protections under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act and relevant High Court jurisprudence.
Joseph Jansen, chairperson of Voice for Justice, raised grave concerns regarding the court's reliance on unverified claims of religious conversion and its acceptance of minimal evidentiary standards. He said that such reasoning risks legitimizing 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.
Advocate Rana Abdul Hameed emphasized that the judgment lowers the threshold for validating conversions and marriages in contested circumstances, ignoring the structural vulnerabilities faced by minority girls. He noted that courts must apply the highest standards of scrutiny, especially in cases involving potential coercion.
Advocate Akmal Bhatti observed that the ruling raises serious concerns about due process and the adequacy of safeguards against forced conversions and child marriages. The lack of independent verification of age and consent reflects significant procedural gaps. This judgment raises profound concerns about the protection of minority rights and the rule of law in Pakistan. Immediate corrective measures are essential to restore public confidence and safeguard the rights of vulnerable communities, he added.
A human rights defender, Aneel Edger stressed that consent cannot be presumed in environments shaped by coercion, intimidation, and social pressure. They called upon the judiciary to adopt a victim-centered and rights-based approach, ensuring that justice is both done and seen to be done.
A human rights activist, Rukhsana Zafar noted that such cases must not be treated in isolation, as they reflect broader systemic failures to protect vulnerable communities. She added that the fear of abduction and forced conversion continues to restrict women’s mobility and access to education within minority communities.