The European Parliament has passed a resolution raising international alarm over the forced religious conversion, abduction, and child marriage of minority girls in Pakistan, prompting civil society groups within the country to demand comprehensive legislation criminalising these practices as distinct criminal offences. The resolution, adopted recently, has drawn renewed attention to systemic gaps in Pakistan's child protection and minority rights frameworks.

The Case at the Centre of the Resolution

The European Parliament's resolution specifically highlighted the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christian girl from Lahore, who was reportedly kidnapped in July last year and subsequently converted to Islam and married. Earlier this year, a federal court in Pakistan awarded custody of Maria Shahbaz to the Muslim man who allegedly abducted, converted, and married her — a verdict that triggered widespread protests from Christian communities, rights advocates, and civil society organisations across the country.

What the EU Resolution Demands

The resolution called on Pakistani authorities to provide Maria Shahbaz with independent legal representation, psychological support, and access to her family. It also urged a transparent and impartial review of her case in accordance with child protection laws and due process. Beyond the individual case, the resolution urged Pakistani authorities to investigate allegations of forced conversion and child marriage involving minors, hold perpetrators accountable, facilitate the safe return of kidnapped girls, and strengthen judicial capacity to hear such cases free from intimidation or external pressure.

Civil Society Voices

Kashif Nawab, a Director with Social Action Transformation of Humanity (SATH) in Pakistan, outlined these demands in a report published by Eurasia Review. Civil society representatives, while welcoming the resolution as an important expression of international concern over gender-based violence, child abuse, and religion-based discrimination, called on Islamabad to introduce legislation that treats forced religious conversion as a standalone criminal offence and strengthens protections for children and religious minorities.

Joseph Janssen, Chairman of Voice for Justice, warned that the Federal Constitutional Court's verdict in Maria Shahbaz's case could set a dangerous precedent for future cases involving child marriage and forced conversion. He argued that if allowed to stand, the ruling risks weakening legal protections for children and religious minorities across Pakistan.

Advocate Akmal Bhatti stressed that the case must be approached as a child protection matter rather than a religious one. He argued that courts are obligated to examine age, legality, and consent before recognising any marriage involving a minor. A review petition challenging the Federal Constitutional Court's verdict remains pending before the court.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

Forced religious conversions of minority girls — predominantly Christian and Hindu — have been a persistent concern in Pakistan, with human rights organisations documenting hundreds of cases annually. Critics argue that the absence of a specific anti-conversion law, combined with judicial inconsistency, has left victims with little recourse. This comes amid growing international scrutiny of Pakistan's record on minority rights, with the EU resolution adding diplomatic weight to long-standing domestic demands for reform. The outcome of the pending review petition in Maria Shahbaz's case is expected to have significant implications for how Pakistani courts handle similar cases going forward.