All Pakistan Minorities Alliance chairman, Paul Jacob Bhatti, has called for the establishment of an independent parliamentary commission to investigate cases of forced religious conversion and underage marriages. Bhatti emphasized the importance of protecting basic human rights, especially children’s rights and freedom of religion, in light of repeated incidents of forced conversions and child marriages.
His plea follows protests by Christians in various parts of Pakistan after a court ruling allowed a 30-year-old man to retain custody of a 13-year-old girl. Bhatti highlighted that minors lack the capacity to provide genuine consent in matters related to religion or marriage, stressing the need for thorough scrutiny of conversions or marriages occurring under duress.
Bhatti urged the Pakistani government to review the court’s decision to ensure alignment with the country’s constitutional safeguards and international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. He proposed the formation of a specialized review body, comprising human rights experts, religious representatives, legal professionals, and child protection specialists, through parliamentary approval.
Christian communities have raised concerns over increasing cases of abductions, forced conversions, and underage marriages, urging authorities to enhance legal protections for vulnerable groups. Protesters have called for a reevaluation of laws affecting minority communities and criticized the court’s validation of the conversion and marriage of an underage Christian girl, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent further injustices.
