By Mian Iftikhar Ahmad
Faisalabad:
A seminar was organized at Bishop House Faisalabad under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad to highlight the protection of minority girls’ rights, addressing serious issues such as child marriage, forced religious conversion and abduction, the event aimed to create awareness among young Christian girls, emphasize the effective enforcement of laws and strengthen a collective voice for safeguarding minor girls
On this occasion Bishop Indrias Rehmat, Father Khalid Rashid Asi, Father Abid Tanveer, Shahid Anwar Advocate, Tasneem Daud Advocate, Akmal Bhatti Advocate, Sister Sarwat Iqbal, Zania Mirab and Naila Inayat addressed the participants, stating that protecting the rights of minor girls is a shared responsibility of the state and society
The seminar was attended by religious leaders, lawyers, civil society representatives as well as a large number of female students and teachers from various schools in Faisalabad
Rights of minor girls, constitutional concerns and key demands
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Indrias Rehmat stated that a minor girl cannot become a wife nor can her religion be forcibly changed, such acts are not only grave violations of human rights but also contrary to the spirit of the law
He urged state institutions to take immediate legislative and effective measures against the abduction of minority girls, forced religious conversions and child marriages
The speakers emphasized that the marriage of a minor girl is legally and morally unacceptable and no girl can be compelled to change her religion
The seminar highlighted the importance of protecting minority girls in the context of recent constitutional court decisions and existing laws in Pakistan
The participants demanded a review of the constitutional court decision and called for preventing the abduction of minor girls, amending child marriage laws to declare such marriages invalid, enacting legislation to end forced religious conversions and ensuring practical and effective measures for the protection of minority girls
