Pakistani Court Faces Scrutiny After Upholding Marriage of 13-Year-Old Christian Girl

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s judicial system is facing renewed scrutiny after a controversial court ruling upheld the marriage of a 13-year-old Christian girl to an adult Muslim man, prompting criticism from lawmakers, human rights advocates and religious leaders who say the decision undermines protections for vulnerable minorities.

The case has drawn particular attention in Punjab Province, where Ijaz Alam Masih, a Christian lawmaker and former provincial minister for minority affairs, introduced a motion on April 21, 2026, questioning why courts appear to discount official identity records issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in cases involving underage marriage among minority communities.

The motion follows a March 25 ruling by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court, which validated the marriage of Maria Bibi, also known as Maria Shahbaz, a Christian girl from Lahore, to Shehryar Ahmad, a Muslim man reportedly in his 30s. According to her family, Maria was abducted in July 2025, forcibly converted to Islam and married without parental consent.

In its judgment, the court expressed doubts about the reliability of official documentation, including NADRA-issued birth records, citing delayed registration and inconsistencies in reported age. Judges also pointed to the girl’s own statements, which they interpreted as evidence of “maturity,” and affirmed that the marriage was permissible under Islamic law, which allows Muslim men to marry women from “People of the Book,” including Christians.

Legal experts and rights advocates say the ruling exposes tensions between religious interpretations and statutory law. Pakistan’s Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 criminalizes underage marriage but does not automatically render such unions void — a gap critics say has been repeatedly exploited in similar cases.

Mr. Masih warned that the decision could set a troubling precedent. “When courts dismiss NADRA documents as insufficient or secondary evidence, it creates serious legal uncertainty and weakens fundamental rights, especially for minorities,” he said in remarks reported by UCA News. He added that at least six similar cases have surfaced across Punjab since the ruling.

The family’s lawyer, Rana Abdul Hameed, welcomed the parliamentary motion, calling prevailing judicial interpretations in such cases “deeply flawed and alarming.” Lawmakers have also called on NADRA officials to clarify the legal standing of key identity documents, including child registration and family certificates, in court proceedings.

The ruling has also sparked protests among Christian leaders. On April 10, Bishop Yousaf Sohan of Multan led a demonstration at a Lahore cathedral condemning forced conversions and marriages involving minor girls from minority communities. Activists say the case has shaken confidence among Christian families and renewed calls for stronger legal safeguards.

A broader pattern

Human rights organizations say the case reflects a wider and persistent pattern. Data compiled by advocacy groups between 2021 and 2025 indicate that more than 500 cases of abduction and forced conversion involving minority girls have been reported in Pakistan, with roughly one-third affecting Christians. Most victims were under 18.

International bodies, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, as well as United Nations experts, have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of Christian and Hindu girls in provinces such as Punjab and Sindh. In many instances, courts have accepted claims that the girls converted and married of their own will, despite conflicting evidence from families.

Christians make up roughly 2 percent of Pakistan’s population and have long reported discrimination and limited access to legal protections. Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees minority rights under Article 36, but advocates say enforcement remains inconsistent.

As of Wednesday, provincial authorities in Punjab had not issued a formal response to the parliamentary motion. []