ISLAMABAD: The European Parliament has adopted a resolution concerning the case of Maria Shahbaz, alleging that the Christian girl was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married as a minor.
However, Pakistan has rejected the allegations, insisting the case has already been settled by its courts.
The resolution, introduced by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, urged Pakistani authorities to ensure Maria Shahbaz’s immediate release from any alleged forced custody and to protect her rights. It also expressed concern over reports of forced conversions and underage marriages involving minority girls in Pakistan.
Pakistan dismissed the resolution, saying it misrepresented the facts of the case. Officials maintained that Maria Shahbaz voluntarily married Muhammad Naqash and that no evidence existed to support claims that she was underage at the time of marriage.
According to the government’s account, Maria, a resident of Faisalabad, left her home voluntarily with Naqash on April 28, 2020. Following a complaint by her mother, police registered a case and initiated legal proceedings.
Pakistani authorities said Maria and Naqash appeared before a court on July 3, 2020, where they confirmed their marriage. Maria was temporarily placed in a government shelter pending the court’s decision. On August 4, 2020, the Lahore High Court dismissed the case, citing Maria’s testimony and available evidence, and allowed her to live with her husband.
Officials further stated that the court found inconsistencies in documents relating to Maria’s age and ultimately determined that she was an adult. They added that no subsequent complaints alleging forced conversion or unlawful detention had been filed after the court’s ruling.
Pakistan also accused some groups in Europe of using the case to undermine the country’s international image, arguing that the matter had been adjudicated in accordance with Pakistani law and judicial procedures.
