On the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan

B100348/2026

European Parliament resolution on the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan

(2026/2801(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Pakistan

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Maria Shahbaz, was at the age of thirteen abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry; whereas on 25 March 2026 Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court upheld her conversion and marriage, and ordered her to remain with the man who abducted her;

whereas the case reflects a broader pattern affecting girls in Pakistan, especially from Christian, Hindu and other religious minorities, who are largely exposed to abduction, forced conversion and child marriage;

whereas Pakistan recently adopted a National Framework to End Child Marriage aimed at strengthening the protection of minors; whereas legislation against child marriage raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 years was adopted in several provinces;

whereas Pakistan continues to face serious human rights concerns, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, restrictions on freedom of expression, harassment of journalists, misuse of anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws, and pressure on civil society.

Condemns the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage in the case of Maria Shahbaz and calls for an urgent, independent and child sensitive judicial review of the case;

Calls on the Pakistan authorities to ensure Maria Shahbaz safety, access to her family, independent legal representation and protection from coercion or intimidation pending judicial review;

Urges Pakistan authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of abduction, forced conversion, child marriage, trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors, including cases involving Christian, Hindu and other minorities;

Calls on the Pakistani authorities to ensure that courts do not validate marriages or conversions involving minors or persons deprived of free and informed consent;

Welcomes recent legislative steps against child marriage in some provinces and urges Pakistan to fully implement the National Framework to End Child Marriage;

Calls for targeted protection measures for minority girls facing discrimination based on gender, religion, caste and poverty, with particular attention to access to education and social protection;

Condemns enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, harassment of journalists, human rights defenders and activists, and the misuse of anti-terrorism, blasphemy and cybercrime provisions to silence dissent;

Calls on the EU, the EEAS and Member States to raise the case of Maria Shahbaz and the broader pattern of forced conversion and child marriage, as well as question of enforced disappearances in the EU -Pakistan human rights dialogue, Strategic Dialogue and GSP+ monitoring;

Stresses that closer EU - Pakistan relations should be accompanied by progress on human rights, rule of law, women’s and children’s rights and protection of minorities;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Pakistan, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.