For decades, the forced marriage and conversion of Christian girls in Pakistan has been a serious issue; however, successive Pakistani governments have failed to address it with the urgency it demands, causing the problem to escalate over time. This issue suffers not only from governmental neglect but also from the dominance of extremist groups, which has hindered the delivery of justice to minorities in such cases.
Under pressure from the international community, a committee of 37 parliamentarians was formed in 2019 with the support of the Chairman Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly to find out the causes and solutions to forced religious conversions. 90% of such incidents with Christian girls occur in Punjab. Among these 37 members, only one Christian member of the National Assembly, Shanila Ruth MNA, who belonged to Punjab, was included, but after the first meeting of this committee, she was removed from the committee and replaced by Ramesh Kumar. Thus, no Christian parliamentarian from across the country was included in such a serious committee.  .
If we consider the review petition regarding the Maria Shahbaz case—currently pending before the Federal Constitutional Court—its acceptance was made possible not through the efforts of Pakistani Christians, but rather due to sustained pressure from three international organizations: the European Union, the Jubilee Campaign, and ADF International. On July 20, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the abduction, forced conversion, and underage marriage of a Pakistani Christian girl, while urging Islamabad to ensure the protection of religious minorities and to review its human rights record.
The Federal Constitutional Court dismissed the petition filed by the plaintiff, Shahbaz Masih, in its ruling on March 26, 2026; now, approximately four months later, the hearing has commenced on July 24, 2026. I consider this a grave human rights issue, as a minor girl has been subjected to sexual violence from 2020 to the present day. Yet, overlooking this crucial aspect, the hearing of the case has been adjourned indefinitely. I am presenting the points included in the review petition for the interest of the readers

Basis for the review petition: The petition—filed by legal counsel and supported by human rights groups such as ADF International and the Jubilee Campaign—asserts the following:
1- The previous judgment overlooked the fraudulent marriage certificates. The petition highlights that the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 and points out that the local Union Council has confirmed the absence of any official record regarding this marriage.
2- Dispute regarding jurisdiction: The petition contends that the FCC exceeded its authority by ruling on the validity of *Nikah* under Islamic principles, as this jurisdiction constitutionally rests with the Federal Shariat Court.
3- Obsolete Judicial Precedents: The defense argues that the previous judgment was based on outdated precedents and overlooked the recent landmark ruling in *Ali Azhar v. Province of Sindh*, which clearly affirmed that the prohibition of child marriage is consistent with Islamic jurisprudence.
4-• Evidence of document forgery: Legal experts presented evidence indicating that Maria’s mandatory signature and National Identity Card number were missing from the *Nikah-nama* (marriage contract); furthermore, the *Nikah-khwan* (officiant) listed on the document openly refused to verify it.
During the proceedings, Justice Rizvi remarked that "the luring away of underage girls is a matter that warrants serious reflection by society as a whole." As the petitioner's counsel strongly emphasized the constitutional flaws in the original judgment, the court adjourned the hearing indefinitely pending a formal response from the state's top law officers. However, a two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan, the Advocate General of Punjab, and the primary parties to the case in order to secure detailed legal assistance on the matter.