Activists allege forged documents led to court validation of underage Christian girl’s marriage, exposing legal gaps and sparking reform demands.
Newsroom (09/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) A growing legal and human rights controversy has emerged in Pakistan following allegations that forged documents were used to secure a court ruling validating the marriage of a Muslim man to an underage Christian girl.
At a press conference held in Lahore on June 6, Christian rights activists and legal experts said they had uncovered evidence indicating that documents submitted to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) were fabricated. The court, based in Islamabad, had ruled on March 25 that the marriage between 30-year-old Muhammad Shehryar and Maria Shahbaz—also known as Bibi—was legally valid under both Pakistani and Islamic law.
The girl’s family has since filed a review petition, submitted on April 30, challenging the verdict and seeking to have the ruling overturned.
Family Disputes Age and Circumstances
Central to the case is the claim by Maria’s father, Shahbaz Masih, and supporting activists that she was only 13 years old when she was allegedly abducted in July 2025, forcibly converted to Islam, and married.
Despite these allegations, the FCC not only validated the marriage but also rejected the family’s petition for custody. The decision has sparked protests and public demonstrations by Christian groups and human rights advocates, who argue that the ruling failed to account for coercion and the vulnerability of minority communities.
Questions Raised Over Key Evidence
During the Lahore briefing, lawyers and activists Safdar Chaudhry and Chaudhry Saleem Akhtar pointed to what they described as serious flaws in the evidence presented to the court.
They alleged that the marriage certificate lacked essential identifying elements, including Maria’s signature, thumbprint, national identity card number, and credible witness details. They also stated that the cleric named as the officiant had denied conducting the marriage ceremony.
Further concerns were raised about a statement attributed to Maria that was recorded before a magistrate. According to the activists, the statement was written in English, even though Maria is reportedly illiterate and speaks only Punjabi—raising doubts about its authenticity and whether it reflected her actual testimony.
Systemic Failures Under Scrutiny
Human rights lawyer Nasir William said the case highlights deeper issues within Pakistan’s legal and enforcement systems.
“The reliance on questionable documents shows a troubling level of impunity,” he said, warning that perpetrators may feel shielded from accountability. He added that unless abduction cases are treated as serious criminal offenses, legislative steps such as Pakistan’s 2026 child marriage law would have limited impact.
William and other advocates argue that both judicial oversight and police investigations in such cases require urgent strengthening.
Reform Demands Gain Momentum
In response to the case, activists have proposed a four-point reform agenda aimed at closing legal loopholes:
- A complete legal ban on the religious conversion of individuals under 18 from minority communities.
- Mandatory age verification through official government databases before testimonies are recorded by magistrates.
- Specialized training for law enforcement officers to improve investigations into abduction and child marriage cases.
- Universal birth registration measures to ensure accurate age documentation and eliminate ambiguity.
These demands reflect broader concerns about the vulnerability of minority girls and the need for stronger preventive mechanisms.
Government Engagement and Broader Context
On June 4, a delegation of Christian community representatives met with Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in Islamabad to advocate for stricter action against forced conversions.
According to data from the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice, 421 cases of abduction and forced conversion involving minority women were recorded between 2021 and 2024, with most victims being minors. Activists say these figures underscore the urgency of reform and the scale of the issue.
Case Seen as Defining Moment
As the review petition proceeds, the case is increasingly viewed as a test of Pakistan’s legal system and its ability to protect vulnerable populations.
With allegations of forged evidence now at the forefront, rights groups are calling for accountability, transparency, and structural reform—arguing that the outcome could set a critical precedent for addressing similar cases in the future.
- Raju Hasmukh with files form UCA News
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