Dr Bhatti Urges Probe into Forced Conversions and Child Marriages

In response to mounting criticism over a recent judicial ruling, Dr Paul Jacob Bhatti has urged the Pakistani government to establish an independent parliamentary commission to investigate cases of forced religious conversion and child marriage among minority girls. Geo News reports that Dr Bhatti, leader of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, emphasizes the alarming nature of these incidents, arguing they violate fundamental rights such as freedom of belief and child protection.

The controversy follows a ruling by Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court, which was met with widespread protests. A two-member bench, including Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, deemed a 13-year-old girl 'sufficiently mature,' placing her with her alleged 30-year-old husband and acknowledging her religious conversion under Sharia law. This decision has faced intense backlash from legal experts, civil society groups, and child advocacy organizations. Despite evidence of the girl's minor status provided by her parents, the court dismissed these claims. The family has sought legal redress since her alleged abduction in July 2025, with a sessions court later revealing a forged marriage certificate and a lack of official registration. The higher court's decision to uphold the marriage, critics say, risks encouraging further rights violations and poses additional threats to minority groups, as reported by Geo News.

Dr Bhatti underscores the inability of minors to give informed consent for marriage or religious conversion. He calls for these cases to receive independent, transparent investigations. He further urges authorities to review the court's decision, considering Pakistan’s constitutional duties and international child rights commitments. Additionally, Dr Bhatti proposes the creation of an autonomous review panel, consisting of human rights experts, legal professionals, religious leaders, and child protection advocates, to ensure impartiality and victim protection, according to Geo News.