Churches leadership Demand Justice for Maria Shahbaz, Announce Joint Protest on April 25.

An emergency meeting of all churches in Sahiwal was convened on April 16, 2026, by Fr. Nadeem Joseph OP, Promoter for Justice & Peace and Parish Priest of Sahiwal, to demand justice for Maria Shahbaz and to take urgent action for the voiceless and oppressed in society. The meeting was called in response to the case of Maria Shahbaz, a minor Christian girl who was reportedly pressured to change her religion and then forced into marriage with an adult Muslim man. Church leaders condemned the incident and unanimously agreed to take practical steps to seek justice and prevent such cases in the future. The action plan includes holding a joint protest rally on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to raise a collective voice against injustice, carrying banners and slogans to highlight the issue and demand rights for minorities, and calling on the government to constitute a committee at the federal level to investigate such cases and ensure the protection of minorities. The churches also demanded an end to forced conversions, especially of underage girls, strict implementation of laws prohibiting the marriage of minors, and reaffirmed that all citizens are equal before the law and deserve equal protection. Fr. Nadeem Joseph OP said the meeting was a call to stand with those who are suffering and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, stressing that unity, prayer, and concrete action are needed to ensure justice for Maria Shahbaz and to safeguard the rights of all vulnerable communities. The churches vowed to continue their peaceful struggle until justice is served and effective safeguards are put in place