The issue of forced marriage and religious conversion of girls from minority communities—particularly Christians—in Pakistan is a long-standing, sensitive, and complex problem, one that consistently draws deep concern from national and international human rights organizations. Despite global pressure, the Government of Pakistan appears reluctant to enact effective legislation on this matter, as it faces intense pressure from 14 religious-political parties. Similarly, the courts also find themselves, in one way or another, subject to similar pressures

The high-profile case of Maria Shahbaz—which spanned from the magistrate’s court to the Federal Constitutional Court—failed to secure justice for the young Christian girl, and her case remains pending to this day. Now, another case has emerged: that of a Hindu girl, Bandiya Kumari, from Quetta, Balochistan, who was abducted, brought to Sindh, forcibly converted, and coerced into marriage. Addressing this incident, Hindu Senator Dinesh Kumar delivered a bold and forceful speech in the Senate—a courageous intervention the likes of which had not been heard before in the Senate on this subject. Beyond addressing the issue in the Senate, Senator Dinesh Kumar also convened a special meeting for other Senators and MNAs belonging to minority communities.

A highly significant meeting of the Senate Minority Caucus was held under the chairmanship of Senator Dinesh Kumar, during which serious note was taken of incidents involving the alleged abduction, forced conversion, and child marriage of young girls from minority communities.

The details of this important meeting are as follows:

Meeting Participants and Representation of Ministries • Government Officials: The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Mr. Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das; Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu; and various MNAs representing minority communities, including Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Ramesh Lal, Sanjay Parwani, Neelam, and Nelson Azeem.

Displeasure over the absence of officials from relevant ministries: • The committee’s convener, Senator Dinesh Kumar, expressed strong displeasure regarding the persistent absence of key secretaries and establishment officials from the meetings. He warned that any future absence would result in the initiation of a parliamentary privilege motion. Order for the recovery of 14-year-old Bindiya Kumari • The meeting included a detailed discussion on the case of a 14-year-old girl from a minority community—involving her abduction, forced conversion to Islam, and subsequent marriage—within the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.

The DIGs of Sindh and Balochistan informed the committee that a writ petition regarding this matter had been filed, which had caused the proceedings to stall. However, legal experts apprised the committee that this petition was merely a pretext to divert attention. • Issuing strict directives, the committee ordered the police to ensure the safe recovery of the girl within seven days.

Key Demands and Constitutional Stance Constitutional Responsibility: Members of Parliament emphasized that protecting underage minority citizens from forced marriages and forced religious conversions is a primary constitutional responsibility of the stat.

Enforcement of the Law: Senator Khalil Tahir Sindhu clarified that, given the existence of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, the marriage of any minor cannot be considered legally valid. • Addressing the Root Cause: The committee emphasized that, rather than merely focusing on curbing the number of cases, it is essential to reach the root cause of the issue to ensure its permanent eradication.

In this regard, action should be taken not only against those who lure young girls, but also against all other facilitators of this heinous crime—including those who issue religious conversion certificates and the individuals who officiate these marriages (nikah-khwans). The Child Marriage Act must be strictly and seriously enforced. Furthermore, groups that fabricate documents to facilitate the marriage of minors should be exposed and subjected to stringent legal action. Instead of relying solely on affidavits, courts should accept only those certificates issued by authorized institutions, such as the Union Council or NADRA. It is a welcome development that the Senate Minority Caucus has drawn attention to this sensitive issue, and it will undoubtedly yield positive results.

I do not believe the government will take any serious steps or enact legislation in this regard; however, members of the Senate Minority Caucus could play a positive role in ensuring the implementation of the Child Marriage Act.