In a significant legal victory, a civil court in Pakistan’s Punjab province has nullified the forced marriage of a Christian woman, allowing her to reunite with her family after years of abuse and coercion.

The ruling, handed down in Bahawalpur, declared her marriage invalid and restored her religious status.

Shahida Bibi, had been subjected to forced conversion and an unlawful marriage to her stepfather’s brother.

With the support of the legal advocacy group ADF International and allied lawyers, her case was successfully argued, leading to the annulment of her marriage and the reissuance of official documents confirming her Christian identity.

Bibi’s suffering began when she was just 11 years old. Following her mother’s elopement with a Muslim man, she was handed over to his brother, who later coerced her into marriage when she turned 18.

This strategic delay was reportedly intended to sidestep Pakistan’s legal restrictions on child marriage.

During her captivity, she gave birth to two children while being held in the forced union.

Global organisations, including UNICEF, have repeatedly warned that child marriage remains a critical issue, with over 100 million girls worldwide at risk of being forced into marriage over the next decade.

Minority girls in Pakistan face heightened vulnerability due to systemic discrimination, weak legal protections, and fears of retaliation.

Tehmina Arora, Asia advocacy director at ADF International, told the The Christian Post: “The Pakistani government must take immediate action to establish a uniform legal age for marriage and enforce existing laws to stop these abductions and coerced unions.

She further stressed the importance of religious freedom, adding, “Every individual has the right under international law to freely practice their faith without the threat of violence. Pakistan, like all nations, must uphold its commitments to protect religious minorities and enforce laws that safeguard girls from exploitation.”