News Desk
Lahore, March 28, 2026:
The Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference (PCBC) and the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) have expressed concern over a recent verdict by the Federal Shariat Court upholding the validity of the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl, identified as Maria, to a Muslim man.
In a joint statement, the organizations said the case raises serious legal and human rights questions, particularly regarding the application of laws governing the minimum age of marriage and the handling of alleged forced conversions.
According to the girl’s father, Shehbaz Masih, his daughter was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married without the family’s consent. The statement noted that documentation submitted by the family, including a record from the National Database and Registration Authority, indicated that the girl was 13 years old at the time of the marriage.
The statement was issued by Samson Shukardin, President of the PCBC and Chairperson of the NCJP, along with Bernard Emmanuel, National Director of the NCJP, and Naeem Yousaf Gill, Executive Director of the NCJP.
They observed that cases involving underage girls from minority communities are, at times, being adjudicated in ways that appear inconsistent with existing legal provisions. The statement emphasized concerns over what it described as uneven application of laws prohibiting marriage below the age of 18.
While reaffirming respect for judicial independence, the organizations stressed that courts are also responsible for ensuring that allegations of forced conversion and child marriage are examined through transparent and impartial processes. They added that such cases should be handled in accordance with constitutional guarantees and Pakistan’s international human rights commitments.
The PCBC and NCJP called on relevant authorities to review the ruling and ensure the protection of the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of religious affiliation.