Pakistan high court revives abduction and forced conversion case

The Lahore High Court has ordered the restoration of a police case involving the alleged abduction, forced conversion, and marriage of a Christian girl, Maria Shahbaz. The decision provides a legal path for her family to challenge a previous ruling by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court, which had granted custody of the girl to the accused, Shehryar Ahmad.

Safdar Choudhry, chairman of the Raah-e-Nijaat Ministry, stated that a magistrate had previously accepted a police cancellation report without the presence of the victim’s family or legal counsel. Allegations have been made that investigating officers withheld findings related to potential forgery and fraud regarding the marriage and conversion documents. Furthermore, a union council official testified that the marriage certificate in question was not registered with the relevant authorities, suggesting the document was false.