Lahore, Pakistan: (The Edge Foundation) In a landmark ruling that marks a rare legal victory for a persecuted Christian family, the Lahore High Court has ordered the immediate return of 14-year-old Ariah Gulzar to her mother, Sumera Gulzar, nearly three months after the girl was abducted from their home in Punjab.

Ariah was kidnapped at gunpoint on January 20, 2025, from her residence in Chak 55/2L village, Okara District, by 40-year-old Muslim neighbour Sajjad Baloch and two accomplices. The abductors subsequently threatened the family with violence and even trafficking if they pursued legal action. Despite the threats, the family remained determined to secure Ariah’s return.

When Ariah was finally presented in court by the police on April 7, she appeared disoriented and visibly under pressure. In her statement, she claimed to be 18 years old, stated that she had converted to Islam, and insisted she had married her alleged abductor of her own free will.

However, the legal team — supported by The Edge Foundation, a human rights organisation based in Lahore — submitted official documentation, including Ariah’s birth certificate, proving she is a minor. The documents were accepted by Justice Shahram Sarwar as valid government-issued evidence.

Rejecting the defence’s claims of a lawful marriage, Justice Sarwar ruled in favour of the mother and ordered the immediate return of Ariah to her family’s custody.

“This is a great legal victory not only for the family and our legal team but for all human rights defenders,” said Azhar S. Malik, Coordinator of The Edge Foundation. “Too often, in similar cases, courts accept statements made under pressure or allow underage girls to remain with their abductors under interpretations of Shariah law. Most of the time, these cases are influenced by religious and cultural biases, and the parents lose their daughters forever. This judgment sends a strong message in support of justice and child protection.”

Malik further emphasized the broader implications of the ruling, pointing to the urgent need for legislative reform and stronger implementation of child protection laws.

“The High Court has already recommended raising the legal marriage age for girls from 16 to 18, but the legislation remains pending in Parliament,” he said. “The government must prioritise this issue. Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and is obligated to harmonise its laws with international human rights standards.”

“Ariah and her family are fortunate,” Malik added. “But many other families are still waiting for justice. Some parents have been forced to give up their fight after facing threats, intimidation, or inaction from authorities.”

Malik stressed the need for strict enforcement of the Child Marriage Restraint Act and for holding accountable those who lure, convert, and illegally marry underage girls.

“This verdict is a ray of hope,” he concluded, “but unless cultural practices stop overriding the law, and unless the law is applied equally and without religious bias, countless other girls will continue to suffer in silence.”

This ruling underscore the urgent need for legal reform and robust protections for religious minority girls in Pakistan, many of whom continue to face abduction, forced conversion, and coerced marriages every year.