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Legal experts, senior journalists, and representatives of religious minority communities have renewed calls for stricter child protection laws in Pakistan, warning that existing legal loopholes continue to leave minority girls vulnerable to forced conversions and underage marriages. The concerns were raised during a media briefing organised by the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights (PCHR) in Islamabad, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, participants at the briefing cited the controversial Maria Shahbaz case, where Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court upheld the marriage and religious conversion of a minor girl after relying on her statement recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In the statement, the girl claimed she had willingly converted to Islam and entered into marriage of her own accord. The ruling has triggered fresh criticism from rights activists and minority representatives, who argue that minors cannot meaningfully consent in situations involving coercion, social pressure, or economic vulnerability. Speakers at the event said the verdict once again exposed deep flaws in Pakistan's legal framework concerning child protection and minority rights. The court also noted that while child marriage laws criminalise underage unions, the legislation does not explicitly declare such marriages void. PCHR Chairperson and Member of the National Assembly Riaz Fatyana stated that poverty, illiteracy, and systemic discrimination remain major factors contributing to the vulnerability of minority communities across the nation. He further criticised shoddy police investigations, questionable judicial attitudes, and rising religious extremism, saying these issues prevent minorities from fully enjoying constitutional protections guaranteed under the law, as cited by The Express Tribune. Former MNA Aisya Nasir also highlighted the role of economic deprivation in worsening the plight of religious minorities, particularly young girls from impoverished families who often become targets in forced conversion and marriage cases, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)
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