The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of Pakistan has ordered a review of its controversial ruling that previously upheld the marriage of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz to her abductor, Shehryar Ahmad.

During the hearing on July 24, conducted on a petition filed by Maria Shahbaz’s family, the court accepted the plea to review its prior decision. The original ruling had validated the marriage based on forged documents that falsely established the minor’s age as 18. Reiterating their position, her family stated in the petition that Maria was only 13 years old when she was abducted in July 2025.

During the July 24 hearing, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Aamer Farooq issued formal notices to Maria Shahbaz, Muhammad Shehryar, the Attorney General of Pakistan, and the Advocate General of Punjab, directing them to present their positions before the court.

The court’s earlier ruling, delivered on March 25, drew severe criticism from civil society organizations and legal bodies across Pakistan, who raised concerns that validating such marriages based on disputed documents creates a dangerous precedent and encourages forced conversions.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 on April 27, declaring marriage under the age of 18 a non-bailable offense. The new legislation replaced the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, which had set the minimum marriageable age at 16 for females and 18 for males.

Rights activists across the country continue to highlight that passing legislation alone is insufficient without strict enforcement. Highlighting cases like Maria Shahbaz’s as prime examples of implementation gaps, activists are urging the government to take swift, decisive action to enforce child protection laws effectively.

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