Father's fight fails: Pakistan court ruling sparks outrage after Christian woman’s marriage to Muslim man upheld

Headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, a two-judge bench held that the woman, who had embraced Islam, was of mature age and therefore in the lawful custody of her husband, reported Dawn News.

The observation came in a judgement deciding the petition of Shahbaz Masih, a Christian resident of Lahore, who sought the recovery of his daughter, Maria Bibi, alleging that she was a minor and had been illegally detained after contracting a void marriage with respondent Shehryar Ahmad, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

The dispute began after the  petitioner lodged an FIR under Sections 363/365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, alleging abduction of the woman.

During the probe, Maria Bibi appeared before a magistrate and recorded a statement under Section 164 of the CrPC, asserting she had married Shehryar Ahmad of her own free will and had not been abducted, reported Dawn News.

The father later filed a petition under Section 491 CrPC before an Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ), Lahore, seeking her recovery.

The petition was dismissed on Oct 9, 2025 with the court taking into account the woman’s statements before both the magistrate and a Justice of Peace, reported Dawn News.

A writ petition challenging that order was also dismissed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Oct 17, 2025, after which the father approached the FCC, the newspaper reported.

The court rejected the petitioner’s contention that a Christian woman cannot marry a Muslim man.