All Pakistan Minorities Alliance chairman and former Federal Minister for National Harmony and Minorities Affairs Dr Paul Jacob Bhatti has urged the government to establish an independent parliamentary commission to investigate cases of forced conversion and marriage involving minor girls.
In a statement, Dr Bhatti described the situation as a matter of “serious and legitimate concern,” warning that repeated instances of forced conversion and underage marriage are systematically undermining fundamental human rights, including the rights of the child, freedom of religion, and the inherent dignity of every individual.
His call came following widespread protests across the country in response to a ruling by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) that has drawn criticism from civil society, legal experts, and child protection advocates.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha ruled that 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz was of “mature age” and therefore in the lawful custody of her alleged husband, 30-year-old Shehryar Ahmad, declaring her conversion to Islam valid under Sharia law.
The court rejected documentary evidence of the girl’s age presented by her parents, and the family has repeatedly sought judicial intervention for her recovery since Maria was reportedly abducted on July 29, 2025.
A re-investigation conducted under the direction of the sessions court found that the marriage certificate had been fabricated, with the union council confirming that no official record of the marriage existed. Despite this, the higher court proceeded to validate the union, a decision that critics say sends a dangerous message to perpetrators and further imperils vulnerable minority girls across the country.
Dr Bhatti stressed that a minor cannot, by definition, exercise full and free consent in matters of religion or marriage, and that any conversion or marital decision made under conditions of pressure or coercion must be subject to rigorous independent scrutiny before it can be considered legally or morally valid.
Dr Bhatti also urged authorities to immediately review the FCC’s ruling to ensure compliance with Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees and its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He proposed the creation of a formally mandated, independent review panel established through parliamentary approval, composed of internationally recognised human rights experts, representatives from all major religious communities, qualified human rights lawyers, and child protection specialists.
Such a body, he argued, must operate entirely free from external pressure, with all testimonies examined in a protected and professionally supervised environment, and consent verified through independent psychological evaluation and legal safeguards.
