News Desk
PR Lahore, March 28, 2026:
A press conference held at the Lahore Press Club on Saturday brought together civil society representatives, human rights activists, and minority leaders who voiced concern over a recent Constitutional Court verdict in the Maria Shahbaz case, involving a minor Christian girl.
Speakers at the event criticized the court’s decision to validate the girl’s marriage to a Muslim man under Islamic law, arguing that it conflicts with existing legal frameworks governing child marriage in Pakistan.
They pointed to variations in provincial legislation, including the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026, the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013, the Balochistan Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, and the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, all of which set or move toward setting 18 as the minimum age of marriage.
The press conference was addressed by representatives from various organizations, including Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan, the Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights, and the Institute for Peace and Secular Studies, along with church representatives and minority rights advocates.
Chairman of Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan, Samson Salamat, said the ruling could undermine efforts to prevent early marriages and protect minors’ well-being. He highlighted concerns about inconsistencies in legal interpretation and implementation across jurisdictions.
Participants also expressed concern over the broader implications of the verdict for minority communities, particularly Christian and Hindu girls, who they said are more vulnerable to forced conversions and underage marriages.
Speakers warned that such rulings could be misused to legitimize coercive practices and called for stronger legal safeguards.
They emphasized that Pakistan’s international commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, require the protection of minors from early and forced marriages.
The participants outlined several demands, including a review of the court’s verdict, clearer legislation to prevent forced conversions, harmonization of child marriage laws across provinces, and effective enforcement of existing legal provisions. They also called for raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both boys and girls in all provinces.
The conference concluded with a commitment from attending organizations to continue advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the rights of children, women, and religious minorities in Pakistan.