A Christian family seeking the return of their daughter faces another delay. On October 21, Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court postponed a hearing because officials said they could not deliver a court notice to the accused man due to an “incomplete residential address.”
Sheharyar Ahmad faces accusations of abducting Maria Shahbaz in July 2025, forcing her to convert to Islam and making her marry him. Her family says official documents show she was only 12 at the time.
The delay raises serious questions about police accountability. Activists supporting the family say Ahmad received notices for earlier hearings and still lives in the same neighbourhood. Authorities must investigate these claims and explain why they failed to reach him this time.
A Family Still Waiting
Maria’s father, Shahbaz Masih, has asked the court to review its earlier judgment, which upheld a decision allowing Ahmad to retain custody of her based on their claimed marriage.
During the latest hearing, Acting Chief Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi said the family should have raised questions about Maria’s age before a family court. He also noted that Maria had previously told the court she was an adult.
Her family disputes that claim. They say her birth records establish that she was a child when the alleged abduction and marriage took place.
Courts must carefully examine the evidence. But arguments over which court should consider her age must not leave the question of her safety unanswered.
Serious Questions About the Marriage
The marriage documents also face scrutiny. The relevant union council secretary told a Lahore sessions court that he did not acknowledge the marriage certificate’s registration or authenticity.
On October 1, the Lahore High Court restored the police case against Ahmad because a magistrate had approved its closure without hearing Maria’s family or their lawyer.
These developments do not prove Ahmad’s guilt. However, they give authorities clear reasons to investigate the allegations fully and examine the disputed documents.
Authorities Must Act
Maria’s family has spent more than a year seeking her return. Another delay over an address adds to their distress and weakens confidence in the justice system.
Police must explain their failure to deliver the notice. Investigators must check the marriage and conversion documents. Authorities must also ensure that Maria can speak freely and safely, without pressure from anyone.
Pakistan’s institutions must treat allegations involving minority children with urgency. A claimed marriage must never become an excuse to ignore possible abduction, coercion or abuse.
The family needs a fair hearing and timely action—not another round of delay.