Lahore: The Edge Foundation on Tuesday held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club to highlight what it described as a “grave miscarriage of justice” in the case of Shamraiz Masih, a 14-year-old Christian boy from Sargodha who was abducted and coerced into converting to Islam. 

Speaking to a large gathering of journalists and community representatives, Azhar S. Malik, Chairman of The Edge Foundation, along with Irfan Peter, Sohail Hable, Samson Salmat , and Khalid Gill, expressed deep concern that on 20 August 2025 the Lahore High Court dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Shamraiz’s family and instead ordered that the minor remain in the custody of his maternal uncle, who had himself previously converted to Islam under pressure. 

The Edge Foundation said the decision ignored the boy’s age, legal rights, and international child protection standards. “At 14 years old, Shamraiz is still a child under Pakistani law and is far too young to make independent, informed decisions about his faith or guardianship,” the foundation said. 

Citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Pakistan ratified in 1990, speakers noted that children’s views must be heard but cannot be treated as binding when given under coercion or without parental guidance. “By validating a coerced child’s statement, the court has set a dangerous precedent that will embolden abductors and further endanger minority children,” the foundation warned. 

The Edge Foundation issued a set of demands, calling on: 

The Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice and overturn the ruling; 

The Punjab Child Protection Bureau to take immediate protective custody of Shamraiz; 

The National Commissions on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) and Human Rights (NCHR) to intervene; and 

The government to pass special protective legislation against forced conversions of minors. 

Community leaders present at the press conference said the case underscored the urgent need for reforms. They pointed out that dozens of Christian and Hindu children are abducted and forcibly converted every year, with courts and state institutions often failing to provide justice. 

 Speaking to the media, Malik said that the case of Shamraiz “is not just about one boy; it represents every vulnerable child in Pakistan.” He urged the media, civil society, and international organisations to support The Edge Foundation’s campaign against forced conversions.