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        <title>Christian Daily International | Pakistan</title>
        <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/pakistan</link>
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            <title>Christian Daily International | Pakistan</title>
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        <copyright>Christian Daily International © 2026</copyright>
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        <lastBuildDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:16:33 -0400</lastBuildDate>
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                <title><![CDATA[Pakistan's Punjab moves to raise Christian marriage age to 18; divorce reform remains contentious]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/pakistan-s-punjab-moves-to-raise-christian-marriage-age-to-18</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/pakistan-s-punjab-moves-to-raise-christian-marriage-age-to-18</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[A. S. John]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[File photo of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, where lawmakers are expected to table proposed legislation aimed at protecting minority communal properties.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ File photo of the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore, Pakistan. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:46:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A Punjab Assembly committee has unanimously approved legislation to replace Pakistan’s over 150-year-old Christian marriage law, raising the minimum marriage age to 18 for both men and women.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Punjab Assembly committee has unanimously approved legislation to replace Pakistan’s over 150-year-old Christian marriage law, raising the minimum marriage age to 18 for both men and women and introducing mandatory registration of Christian marriages with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and local union councils.
The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs approved the Christian Marriage Bill 2026 on Wednesday (Sept. 30), sending it to the Punjab Assembly for vote. The bill seeks to repeal and replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 with a new framework governing the solemnization, documentation and registration of Christian marriages in the province.
The proposed legislation would standardize the minimum marriage age at 18, replacing provisions under the existing law that allow Christian boys to marry at 16 and girls at 13. Christian Member of the Punjab Assembly Falbous Christopher, who introduced the bill, said raising the age for both genders would strengthen protection against child marriage and ensure that marriages are entered into with genuine consent.
The legislation also seeks to address a longstanding documentation problem for Christian families by making registration with both the relevant union council and NADRA compulsory. Christian marriages currently do not have a comparable registration mechanism under the 1872 law.
Christopher told the committee that the legislation is intended to consolidate and modernize Christian personal law while protecting individual rights and consent. The bill was originally submitted to the committee in April.
Written notice, church announcements and two witnesses required
Under the proposed law, both parties entering a marriage under the Christian Marriage Act would have to be Christian. Authorized pastors and ministers of churches registered with the Punjab government, along with government-appointed marriage registrars, would be empowered to solemnize marriages according to Christian rites.
The bill establishes a formal process before a marriage can take place. Couples would be required to submit basic information and provide prior written notice of their intention to marry. Where a licensed Christian minister solemnizes the marriage, the intended union would also have to be publicly announced in the church for three consecutive weeks.
At least two witnesses would have to be present at the wedding and sign the official marriage record. Marriage certificates and records would then be submitted to the relevant government authorities for registration.
The proposed legislation would also remove restrictions contained in the old law concerning particular days or times on which Christian marriages could be solemnized.
Another provision would give an intending couple the right to approach a civil court if a government-appointed marriage registrar refuses to issue a marriage certificate.
The registration provisions are particularly significant for Christian families whose marriages have faced difficulties in obtaining official documentation.
Activists welcome age change but question absence of divorce reform
While human rights activists and Christian legal experts have welcomed the proposed increase in the marriage age, some have expressed concern that the legislation addresses marriage without comprehensively reforming the Christian divorce law.
Human rights activist Nabila Feroz Bhatti welcomed the proposed 18-year minimum age, saying it would bring the law more closely into line with protections against child marriage and principles of free consent.
She questioned, however, why divorce reform had again been left outside the proposed legislation. According to Bhatti, disagreement among Christian religious leaders over the grounds for divorce has contributed to the issue being excluded from the current reform effort.
“Christian women should be able to seek divorce without being required to make allegations of adultery that are untrue. Section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act, 1869, which historically provided a ground for divorce on ordinary grounds before the provision was removed through a 1981 ordinance during General Zia Ul Haq’s military rule. The provision was restored by the Lahore High Court in 2017,” Bhatti told Christian Daily International.
She said the continued reliance on allegations of adultery in some Christian divorce proceedings places women in a difficult position. “Church leaders and other stakeholders should address the issue as part of broader Christian personal law reform,” Bhatti added.
Attorney proposes wider grounds for ending a Christian marriage
Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha also welcomed the proposed changes to Christian marriage law but said that reform should not stop there.
“Necessary amendments are also required in the Christian Divorce Act, 1869, particularly Section 10, as it is a law dating back to the British colonial period and does not adequately address the issues and needs of Christian families in the present day,” Rakha told Christian Daily International.
Rakha said Section 10 should be amended to provide fair and practical grounds for ending a marriage in circumstances recognized by modern family law.
“The law should provide reasonable grounds on which a marriage may be dissolved through divorce, taking into account the realities faced by Christian families today,” he said.
He pointed to the legal restrictions currently faced by Christian husbands seeking divorce, and said a comprehensive reform should address a broader range of circumstances affecting married couples.
Among the grounds the senior attorney proposed were adultery, prolonged and unjustified separation, physical or emotional cruelty, domestic violence, failure to provide family maintenance, persistent neglect of marital responsibilities and other circumstances in which continuation of a marriage becomes untenable.
Similar bill in Sindh draws objections from major churches
The Punjab legislation also comes amid a wider debate over whether Christian family law should be reformed through separate provincial legislation or through a uniform national framework.
A similar controversy has emerged in Sindh province, where Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 in the Sindh Assembly on Sept. 8, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
The Sindh bill proposes to raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18 and would replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Christian Divorce Act of 1869 in the province. It also covers matters including marriage registration, divorce, judicial separation, maintenance, remarriage and custody of children.
However, the proposed Sindh legislation has faced objections from major Christian denominations over the extent of consultation and claims that church representatives had consented to the bill.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said participation by Catholic representatives in consultations did not amount to approval or endorsement and said it had submitted substantive constitutional, legal and ecclesiastical objections. Bishop Frederick John of the Church of Pakistan likewise rejected suggestions that he had formally consented to the legislation.
The Punjab bill now awaits consideration by the provincial assembly. It would not become law unless passed by the assembly and enacted through the required legislative process.
Its passage would also bring the statutory minimum marriage age for Christian men and women into line with the 18-year threshold that has increasingly become a focus of child marriage reform in Pakistan.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Probe ties brother of Pakistani cleric stripped of Lambeth award to blasphemy network]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/probe-ties-brother-of-pakistani-cleric-stripped-of-lambeth-award-to-blasphemy-network</link>
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                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally presents the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation to Pakistani cleric Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, accompanied by his wife, at Lambeth Palace in London on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Lambeth Palace/Neil Turner ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally presents the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation to Pakistani cleric Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, accompanied by his wife, at Lambeth Palace in London on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Lambeth Palace withdrew the award six days later, saying previous comments by Ashrafi had come to light. ]]>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Bishop Azad Marshall, second from left, moderator of the Church of Pakistan, presents a Global Peace Award to Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Bishop Azad Marshall, second from left, moderator of the Church of Pakistan, presents a Global Peace Award to Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi. Days later, Lambeth Palace withdrew the interfaith award it had given Ashrafi, citing his past comments. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 19:51:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[A British newspaper investigation alleging that the brother of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi is connected to a network accused of using Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to abduct, torture and extort people has raised fresh questions about Ashrafi’s own defense of his brother and the Church of Pakistan’s decision to endorse him as an advocate for religious harmony.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A British newspaper investigation alleging that the brother of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi is connected to a network accused of using Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to abduct, torture and extort people has raised fresh questions about Ashrafi’s own defense of his brother and the Church of Pakistan’s decision to endorse him as an advocate for religious harmony.
The Telegraph reported that Hassan Muawiya Ashrafi had filed blasphemy complaints against 26 people over the past four years, according to police chargesheets reviewed by the newspaper. The investigation alleges that a wider network, allegedly involving corrupt officials, used women and social media “honey traps” to lure men, including Christians, into sharing material that could then be used to initiate blasphemy cases.
Relatives of alleged victims told The Telegraph that men were subsequently abducted, tortured and subjected to demands for money, while some remained imprisoned after blasphemy cases were registered against them.
The allegations have not been established in court. Muawiya Ashrafi has denied being part of a blasphemy gang or taking money from accused people, while the PUC has rejected The Telegraph’s investigation as false and said it is pursuing legal action against the newspaper.
But the investigation has put renewed focus on Tahir Ashrafi’s public defense of his brother, and on why a church leader continued to portray Ashrafi as a champion of religious minorities despite longstanding questions surrounding his record on blasphemy cases.
According to The Telegraph, Tahir Ashrafi publicly defended his brother last year, challenging anyone to prove that either he or Muawiya had received money in connection with blasphemy cases.
“If anyone can prove that my brother or I took a single rupee from someone on these cases, you can hang me,” Ashrafi said during a television program, according to the newspaper.
Ashrafi also attacked Islamabad High Court Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, who had conducted dozens of hearings involving petitions filed by more than 100 families alleging serious irregularities in blasphemy investigations.
The proceedings examined allegations of missing evidence, police failures and the alleged use of women to establish online relationships with men who were later accused of blasphemy.
At a political conference in July 2025, Ashrafi intensified his criticism of the judge. “I don’t even consider him a judge. I don’t even consider him a dog,” he said, according to The Telegraph.
The newspaper reported that Justice Khan subsequently ordered the government to establish a commission of inquiry into the allegations, but the order was suspended nine days later following an appeal by lawyer Rao Abdur Raheem.
The Telegraph also reported that Ashrafi, when questioned about accusations that he had provided protection to people involved in the alleged network, said that if he had the authority or opportunity to provide them with a “political umbrella,” he would do so.
The allegations involving Muawiya Ashrafi come against a broader backdrop of concerns within Pakistan’s law enforcement and human rights communities about the misuse of blasphemy laws.
A 2024 Punjab Police Special Branch report attributed an increase in blasphemy cases to what it described as a “blasphemy business gang” involving corrupt officials within the Federal Investigation Agency. The report named lawyer Rao Abdur Raheem and Sheraz Ahmad Farooqi among alleged ringleaders but did not name Muawiya Ashrafi.
The Telegraph reported that Fact Focus subsequently identified Muawiya as a manager of the alleged network’s Lahore operations and published CCTV footage purportedly showing him accompanying police during arrests of people accused of blasphemy.
The newspaper cited relatives of several alleged victims who described a pattern in which men were allegedly lured into online conversations, induced to share material that could be characterized as blasphemous, and then subjected to arrest or abduction.
One family told The Telegraph that a relative was allegedly tricked into sending blasphemous material through WhatsApp before being abducted. The family said it was subsequently asked about the value of its house and jewelry while the man remained imprisoned after a blasphemy case was registered against him.
The newspaper also cited a Fact Focus investigation that reported that at least four alleged victims of the network had died following torture. One alleged victim was reportedly raped with a wooden baton, while another was found with severe bruising around the groin. A prison post-mortem report cited “urine retention” as the cause of death in the latter case, according to The Telegraph.
The allegations are particularly grave in a country where a blasphemy accusation can expose Christians and other religious minorities to mob violence even before a case reaches trial.
Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights has previously raised concerns about alleged networks using women operating under false identities to lure men into online conversations that could result in blasphemy accusations, with some alleged victims subsequently being detained by private individuals rather than law-enforcement authorities.
The Telegraph investigation comes days after Lambeth Palace withdrew a major interfaith award from Ashrafi, making Marshall’s continued defense of the Pakistani cleric increasingly controversial.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally presented Ashrafi with the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation on Sept. 11, describing him as an ambassador of interfaith harmony. Days later, Lambeth Palace withdrew the award after renewed scrutiny of Ashrafi’s previous comments, including his description of Osama bin Laden as a “Sword of God” in response to Salman Rushdie receiving a British knighthood. Lambeth Palace subsequently said it was reviewing the award as well as its nomination and vetting procedures.
Marshall, however, strongly criticized the decision.
In an interview with Anglican Mainstream, the already controversial Church of Pakistan moderator said the withdrawal had “humiliated” the Church of Pakistan and argued that Archbishop Mullally should “apologize” to Ashrafi.

Marshall cited Ashrafi’s condemnation of the 2023 Jaranwala violence against Christians and claimed that Ashrafi had been “instrumental in releasing many people before the mob can lynch them.” He did not publicly provide details of the cases in which he said Ashrafi had secured the release of people facing blasphemy accusations.
The Telegraph investigation now raises a different question: how should Ashrafi’s alleged links to, and public defense of, a person accused of involvement in a network exploiting blasphemy laws be weighed against the Church of Pakistan’s portrayal of him as a defender of religious minorities?
Several minority rights advocates interviewed by The Telegraph disputed Marshall’s characterization of Ashrafi’s record.
Human rights defender Sardar Gill said Ashrafi intervenes on behalf of Christians primarily when there is international pressure. Journalist and former Amnesty International researcher Rabia Mehmood told the newspaper that Ashrafi had provided “political cover” to his brother’s campaign.
The controversy is particularly significant for Christians in Pakistan, who have repeatedly been targeted by blasphemy accusations, mob attacks and vigilante violence.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Archbishop of Canterbury revokes award to Pakistani cleric after bin Laden remarks resurface]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-revokes-award-to-pakistani-cleric-after-bin-laden-remarks-resurface</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/archbishop-of-canterbury-revokes-award-to-pakistani-cleric-after-bin-laden-remarks-resurface</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[CDI Staff]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, presenting The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation to controversial Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury, presenting The Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation to controversial Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi. ]]>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:50:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an interfaith award given to Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after past remarks praising Osama bin Laden resurfaced, raising questions in Pakistan about why he was recommended for the honor by Church of Pakistan’s Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall.]]></description>
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has withdrawn an interfaith award given to Pakistani Muslim cleric Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi after past remarks praising Osama bin Laden resurfaced, raising questions in Pakistan about why he was recommended for the honor by Church of Pakistan’s Moderator Bishop Azad Marshall.
Ashrafi received the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation 2026 from Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally at Lambeth Palace in London on Sept. 11, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States. Lambeth Palace announced Sept. 17 that the award had been withdrawn after previous comments by Ashrafi came to light.
Marshall, Bishop of Raiwind Diocese and moderator/president bishop of the Church of Pakistan, said in a congratulatory letter to Ashrafi that he had “personally recommended his name” for the award during the visit to Pakistan of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
“I had the privilege of personally recommending your name in recognition of your sustained and courageous services to peace and interfaith harmony,” Marshall wrote.
The letter, posted on the official Facebook page of the Church of Pakistan, praised Ashrafi for his “decades-long commitment to peace, reconciliation, moderation, interfaith and intra-faith harmony, the rights of religious minorities, and peaceful coexistence.”
It also praised his opposition to extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence and described the award as a source of pride for Pakistan and those working for religious harmony.
The Church of Pakistan’s spokesperson, the Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, did not respond to Christian Daily International’s requests for comment on the withdrawal of the award or questions about Marshall’s recommendation.
Marshall is a controversial figure within the Church of Pakistan, and his recommendation of Ashrafi has drawn criticism from both Muslim and Christian Pakistanis following the withdrawal of the award.
Critics have questioned why Ashrafi was nominated despite his publicly documented positions concerning the minority Ahmadiyya community and his association with figures involved in blasphemy cases.
“I’m relieved that Tahir Ashrafi’s ‘interfaith harmony’ award has been withdrawn by Lambeth Palace. This was an insult to the victims of the Blasphemy Business Gang and the family of Abdullah Shah. The Archbishop of Canterbury was tricked into awarding a non-deserving recipient,” wrote Muslim commentator Muneeb Qadir on Facebook.

Christian activist Faraz Pervaiz also criticized Marshall, writing that the award had been withdrawn after Ashrafi’s previous remarks about bin Laden came to light and questioning why Marshall and others had continued to honor him.

Christian rights activist Aroon Arthur said the award was “not a recognition of peace” and described it as an insult to victims of religious persecution.

The Rev. Amjad Niamat, chairman of the Presbyterian Ecumenism, Human Rights, Interfaith Peace and Harmony Commission, said the episode highlighted the need for “transparency, careful review, accountability, and consistency” when individuals are recognized for interfaith peace and reconciliation.

Gerald Vincent, a London-based member of the Church of Pakistan, said the withdrawal raised questions about what due diligence had been undertaken before Ashrafi was recommended.
“Nevertheless, Bishop Azad’s own letter confirms his personal role in recommending Ashrafi,” Vincent said. “That makes his judgement in doing so a legitimate matter for public scrutiny.”
Ashrafi has publicly supported Pakistan’s constitutional restrictions on Ahmadis. In 2018, he was reported as calling for restrictions on Ahmadi literature and an Ahmadi translation of the Quran.
His brother, Hassan Muawiya, has also been involved in cases against Ahmadis under Pakistan’s blasphemy and anti-Ahmadi laws. A 2021 human rights report documented his role in pursuing such cases. More recent investigative reporting has alleged that Muawiya was associated with a network accused of exploiting blasphemy laws. Those allegations have not been established by a court.
Ashrafi has also publicly defended Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, arguing that they prevent people from taking the law into their own hands. In a 2014 statement reported by Dawn newspaper, he said the law should remain in place while those making false accusations should be punished.
At the same time, Ashrafi has intervened in cases involving religious minorities and publicly condemned violence against Christians and other non-Muslims.
The immediate controversy over the Lambeth award concerns comments Ashrafi made in 2007 following the British knighthood awarded to author Salman Rushdie.
Media reports quoted Ashrafi as saying that the Pakistan Ulema Council would honor bin Laden with the title “Saifullah”, meaning “Sword of God.” He described bin Laden as a “mujahid” (holy warrior) who had fought for Islam against Russians, Americans and Britons.
Ashrafi has subsequently said the remarks were “totally taken out of context” and were made in response to anger among Muslims over Rushdie’s knighthood. His representatives said the comments were not an endorsement of bin Laden or terrorism.
Bin Laden founded al-Qaeda, which carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, killing nearly 3,000 people.
Lambeth Palace initially honored Ashrafi for what it described as his “outstanding work as an ambassador of interfaith harmony in Pakistan” and his longstanding support for religious minorities, particularly Christians.
After the historical comments became public, however, the palace said it had reconsidered the award.
“It is a longstanding principle of interfaith dialogue and co-operation that we must engage with one another across deeply-held differences, and that remains the case,” Lambeth Palace said. “However, previous comments made by Imam Ashrafi have come to light that have led Lambeth Palace to reconsider this award and we can now confirm today that the award has been withdrawn.”
The original Lambeth citation highlighted Ashrafi’s intervention in the 2012 case of Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl who was accused of blasphemy and imprisoned.
Ashrafi publicly described Rimsha as a “daughter of the nation” and condemned efforts to incite hostility against Christians. The case later collapsed after a Muslim cleric was accused of planting evidence against her.
The withdrawal of the award has now prompted significant questions not only about Lambeth Palace’s vetting process but also about the "personal recommendation" made by the moderator of the Church of Pakistan, Bishop Azad Marshall. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian family law bill in Pakistan’s Sindh sparks controversy as churches deny consent]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-family-law-bill-in-pakistans-sindh-sparks-controversy-as-churches-deny-consent</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/christian-family-law-bill-in-pakistans-sindh-sparks-controversy-as-churches-deny-consent</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[A. S. John]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[St. Patricks Cathedral stands in Karachi, Pakistan, in this undated photo.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ iStock / Danishkhan ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ St. Patrick's Cathedral stands in Karachi, Pakistan, in this undated photo. The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said a proposed Christian family law in Sindh province was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:43:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Controversy has erupted over a proposed law to overhaul Christian family legislation in Pakistan’s Sindh province after the Catholic Church and the Church of Pakistan both denied giving their consent to the bill, despite claims that the two major denominations were consulted during its preparation.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Controversy has erupted over a proposed law to overhaul Christian family legislation in Pakistan’s Sindh province after the Catholic Church and the Church of Pakistan both denied giving their consent to the bill, despite claims that the two major denominations were consulted during its preparation.
Archbishop Benny Travas of the Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi said the proposed Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church, while the Rt. Rev. Frederick John, bishop of the Karachi Diocese of the Church of Pakistan, also categorically rejected any suggestion that he had consented to the legislation.
Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, the province’s first Christian to hold the position, introduced the Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 as a private member’s bill on Sept. 8.
The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18 and replace the colonial-era Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Divorce Act of 1869 in Sindh.
The bill would require the free and voluntary consent of both parties for a valid marriage and establish procedures for the solemnization and registration of Christian marriages, dissolution of marriage, judicial separation, maintenance and alimony, remarriage, and the custody, maintenance and education of minor children.
It also sets out grounds for dissolution of marriage, including adultery, contracting another marriage, cruelty, rape or violence, and desertion for more than two years, among others. To prevent prolonged litigation, the bill proposes that family cases be decided within six months.
The proposed law says its purpose is to strengthen legal protection for Christian women, children and families while safeguarding the religious beliefs, traditions and practices of the Christian community.
The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs, which was given two weeks to examine it and report back to the assembly.
According to Naveed, the legislation followed months of consultations by a subcommittee of the Sindh Minority Caucus comprising himself, Sindh Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Dr. Sham Sundar Advani and MPA Mahesh Kumar Hasija. He also claimed that the subcommittee consulted representatives of the Catholic Church, Church of Pakistan, Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, Salvation Army and major Pentecostal churches.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, however, said participation by Catholic representatives in the consultations did not amount to approval or endorsement of the legislation.
“The Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (PCBC) categorically clarifies that the proposed Sindh Christian Family Laws Bill 2026 was neither endorsed nor approved by the Catholic Church,” the Archdiocese said in a statement issued on Sept. 10.
The Archdiocese said it had formally submitted detailed objections and recommendations to the relevant authorities, citing “substantive constitutional, legal and ecclesiastical concerns” and proposing significant amendments.
Two days later, on Sept. 12, Bishop John of the Church of Pakistan also issued a statement rejecting what he called misleading claims regarding his alleged consent to the bill.
John said he “categorically and unequivocally” distanced himself from claims by Naveed suggesting that he had been consulted, conducted a comprehensive review and formally consented to the proposed legislation.
The bishop said his name and ecclesiastical authority had been invoked without prior discussion, thorough review or formal communication with him.
John said he had been invited by a provincial office to view the draft during a preliminary consultation, but that the meeting covered only basic descriptions and definitions of Christian terminology. The information from that meeting, he said, was not accurately represented on the assembly floor.
He also said the draft’s definition of “Church” was inadequately framed and that several important Christian terms had been omitted.
A subsequent meeting was held without John’s personal participation, he said, but he sent a clergyman as his official representative. According to John, the representative reported that significant work remained to be done, and the meeting concluded with an understanding that additional sessions were needed to finalize the text.
“In short, the current document remains incomplete, immature, and entirely unready to be presented before the provincial assembly,” John said.
The bishop said he had formally submitted reservations, theological critiques and alternative proposals concerning the bill to the relevant authorities.
While saying he did not inherently oppose legislative amendments needed to address modern administrative realities, John said he firmly opposed any modernization of family laws that came at the expense of Christian sacraments or core Christian beliefs.
He emphasized that marriage is a sacred covenant rather than merely a civil or social contract and said legislation governing Christian marriage should adhere to biblical teaching, Christian theology and historical church tradition.
John also called for protection of the religious liberties and sacramental practices of Christian communities, saying no individual or church official should pledge support for or approve such legislation without a thorough, transparent and collaborative consultation process.
He recommended establishing a national working committee on Christian family laws rather than developing separate provincial frameworks.
“It is vital to maintain national uniformity on Christian family laws, particularly regarding the sacrament of Holy Matrimony,” he said, warning that separate provincial legislation could create conflicting legal frameworks for Christians across Pakistan and contribute to fragmentation within the Christian community.
Catholic objections
The Catholic Church said its representatives participated in an April 28 meeting of a sub-group of the Sindh Minority Parliamentary Caucus to review a draft of the proposed Christian family laws. It stressed, however, that participation in the consultation process did not constitute approval, consent or endorsement of the legislation.
The Archdiocese said it was concerned that the bill had been introduced without addressing substantive objections and recommendations submitted by the PCBC.
Among its objections, the Catholic Church said the proposed repeal of the Christian Marriage Act of 1872 and Christian Divorce Act of 1869 should be withdrawn because the laws are federal statutes.
It also opposed the creation of a province-specific Christian family law regime, calling instead for a uniform national framework applicable throughout Pakistan.
The Church said marriage and divorce laws should remain separate rather than being consolidated into a single statute. It also called for the legislation to recognize the Catholic understanding of marriage, particularly between baptized Christians, as the Sacrament of Matrimony and a sacred, lifelong covenant rather than merely a civil or legal contract.
The Archdiocese further called for safeguards against state interference with Catholic religious rites, sacramental life, ecclesiastical authority and internal governance. It said the definition of “Christian” should adequately recognize the distinct denominational and ecclesiastical identities of the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.
Citing Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution, the Church said freedom of religion and the autonomy of religious institutions must be fully protected.
While acknowledging that the state may regulate the civil consequences of marriage and family relationships, it said such regulation must not alter or interfere with religious doctrine, rites or the ecclesiastical governance of churches.
The Catholic Church called on the Sindh Assembly, chief minister, minority affairs minister and law secretary to place its written objections on the legislative record, defer further legislative action and undertake meaningful consultation with the PCBC and other Christian stakeholders.
Naveed did not respond to text messages and phone calls seeking his comments on the objections raised by the two church denominations.
The controversy in Sindh comes as other provinces also move to reform laws affecting Christian families.
In Punjab, Minority Affairs Committee Chairman Falbous Christopher introduced a private member’s Christian Marriage Act Bill 2026 in April.
The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age for Christian men and women to 18, require registration of marriages with union councils and the National Database and Registration Authority, and authorize registered churches across the province to solemnize Christian marriages.
The bill also sought to remove colonial-era restrictions, including a prohibition on solemnizing Christian marriages after 6 p.m.
The Punjab government later formed a technical committee headed by Punjab Minorities Affairs Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora and comprising representatives of major Christian churches, lawmakers and civil society activists to build consensus on the bill’s provisions, particularly those concerning divorce, before it is presented for a vote.
Punjab has separately strengthened its broader child marriage law. The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026 came into force on May 11, raising the minimum marriage age for both girls and boys to 18 and making child marriage a cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offense.
The legislative push for stronger safeguards comes amid continuing reports of abduction, forced conversion and marriage involving Christian and other minority girls.
A Jubilee Campaign study, “Stolen Girls,” documented 210 verified cases involving abduction, forced conversion, child marriage and sexual violence against Christian and other minority girls between 2019 and 2025. Of those cases, 186 occurred in Punjab and 22 in Sindh, while more than 83 percent of the victims were under 18.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Rights record in Pakistan jeopardizes trade status, EU official says]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rights-record-in-pakistan-jeopardizes-trade-status-eu-official-says</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiandaily.com/news/rights-record-in-pakistan-jeopardizes-trade-status-eu-official-says</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Christian Daily International / Morning Star News]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiandaily.com/media/original/img/0/52/5233.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis.]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Screenshot from Voicepk.net podcast ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:15:00 -0400</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Pakistan’s continued access to a lucrative European Union trade preference could be jeopardized if Islamabad fails to demonstrate meaningful progress in protecting human rights, including the rights of religious minorities, the EU ambassador to Pakistan warned.]]></description>
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Pakistan’s continued access to a lucrative European Union trade preference could be jeopardized if Islamabad fails to demonstrate meaningful progress in protecting human rights, including the rights of religious minorities, the EU ambassador to Pakistan warned.
Raimundas Karoblis said on Monday (Aug. 31) that Pakistan’s continuation in the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) beyond 2029 was uncertain with the implementation of United Nations human rights conventions likely to be a decisive factor in the country’s reapplication.
“It is not certain and it is not guaranteed,” Karoblis stressed in a podcast with journalist Munizae Jahangir available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGkeG0z3IbE)
“It depends on the level of implementation of the U.N. conventions,” he said. “One of the preconditions within the present GSP+ scheme and the future scheme is the absence of a serious failure in implementing the U.N. conventions. This is based, first of all, on the conclusions of the U.N. monitoring bodies.”
The comments come as religious freedom advocates continue to raise concerns about Pakistan’s treatment of Christians and other religious minorities, particularly in cases involving blasphemy allegations, forced conversions, child marriage, attacks on places of worship and discrimination in law and practice.
Under the current GSP+ arrangement, Pakistan receives extensive tariff preferences for exports to the EU, with the benefits estimated at around 732 million euros. The textile sector is among the major beneficiaries. The scheme links preferential trade access to implementation of international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance.
For Pakistan, which has ratified the 27 conventions required under the current GSP+ framework, the key issue in the coming years will therefore be implementation rather than ratification.
“All of the conventions have been ratified by Pakistan,” Karoblis said. “From a legal point of view, the first condition is therefore fulfilled. But now, particularly with the new scheme, the emphasis will be exactly on implementation. I mentioned already that the government will need to present an action plan with concrete measures for implementing or improving the implementation of the U.N. conventions. It will also need concrete timeframes and concrete performance indicators. So, indeed, implementation is really important.”
Under the proposed future system, the number of conventions will rise from 27 to 32. Karoblis said Pakistan had already ratified all of them. He stressed that the EU would consider not only future commitments but Pakistan’s existing record. The ambassador also specified, however, that if Pakistan does not reapply for GSP+, or fails to meet the conditions for the scheme, it would revert to ordinary GSP rather than lose all preferential trade treatment.
Under ordinary GSP, tariffs would remain approximately 30 percent lower than conventional tariffs applied to countries such as China and the United States, although they would be higher than under GSP+.
Religious Minorities among EU ‘Red Zones’
Karoblis identified minority rights as one of the principal areas where Pakistan had experienced regression despite progress in some other areas since the introduction of GSP+ in 2014.
“For example, there has been a reduction in the scope of the death penalty, a de facto moratorium on executions, implementation of legislation on torture, child marriage laws, and the strengthening of institutions responsible for human rights, such as the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) and the role of the Ministry of Law and Justice, among others,” he said. “But together with that, there has also been regression in some elements of human rights. The main areas of concern are enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, freedom of expression, the rights of journalists, and minority rights.”
The ambassador said the EU’s assessment drew on its July 2026 GSP+ report, findings by U.N. monitoring bodies and discussions with other stakeholders. He said these sources had raised “serious doubts” about Pakistan’s effective implementation of some of the conventions.
“In order to achieve a positive result with the reapplication, progress is therefore needed in precisely these areas,” he said.
Karoblis emphasized that the EU was not demanding that Pakistan adopt European standards.
“We are not talking about European-level standards or commitments. Nobody and nothing is perfect. But, of course, we expect a certain level of implementation,” he said.
Blasphemy Cases Concern
Karoblis said the EU had welcomed efforts by Pakistan’s government to reduce the number of blasphemy cases from the peak reached several years ago.
He also pointed to court decisions in Islamabad and Sindh Province that resulted in more than 100 people being released on bail. The situation in Punjab Provinice, however, remained a major concern, he said, with around 500 people, including young people, still affected by blasphemy-related cases.
Blasphemy accusations have frequently targeted Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. Rights advocates have repeatedly warned that accusations can arise from personal disputes and can place entire minority communities at risk of mob violence, forced displacement and attacks on churches and homes.
Karoblis also raised concerns over groups he described as “blasphemy gangs.”
“But what we hear is that they are still active. Certain credible guarantees are necessary so that this kind of provocation should not work anymore.”
Karoblis singled out the treatment of the minority Ahmadi community as another serious issue.
“The situation of the Ahmadi community is a major concern. Ahmadis are also citizens of Pakistan, and their rights should also be respected,” he said, urging protection of their physical security, places of worship and other rights.
The EU is also discussing issues concerning registration of marriages and documentation with Pakistan’s government, he said, although “there is not yet anything concrete.”
The ambassador said the matter should be addressed positively “sooner rather than later” and no later than Pakistan’s GSP+ reapplication period.
Although Christians and Ahmadis face different legal and social circumstances in Pakistan, religious freedom advocates have long pointed to the broader problem of laws and practices that leave religious minorities vulnerable to discrimination, violence and abuse.
Child Marriage and Forced Conversion
The EU envoy also cited child marriage legislation among the areas in which Pakistan had made progress.
“For example, there has been a reduction in the scope of the death penalty, a de facto moratorium on executions, implementation of legislation on torture, child marriage laws, and the strengthening of institutions responsible for human rights, such as the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) and the role of the Ministry of Law and Justice, among others,” he said.
The implementation of child marriage laws has particular significance for Pakistan’s religious minorities because rights advocates have repeatedly documented cases in which minority girls are allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to older Muslim men. Advocates have argued that existing legal and institutional weaknesses can make it difficult for families to secure the recovery of minor girls and obtain effective legal remedies.
Karoblis said the EU expected Pakistan to demonstrate concrete implementation of its international commitments rather than simply maintain them on paper.
Freedom of expression and journalists’ rights were also among the ambassador’s areas of concern.
Karoblis cited the “letter” and implementation of amendments to Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), Punjab’s defamation laws and aspects of counterterrorism legislation.
“These are issues which really should be addressed in order to change the situation, make progress and tackle the challenges journalists face today,” he said.
Forced Disappearances
Karoblis said the EU had consistently raised concerns about forced disappearances and arbitrary detention with Pakistan. He acknowledged, however, the government’s argument that Pakistan faces a serious security threat.
“The first response is that we are in a specific security situation, which is true,” he said. “Pakistan ranks number one on the Global Terrorism Index. But our view is that even in this situation, human rights conventions and guarantees should be applied. We are not saying that the government should not fight against terrorism. But basic rights, such as the right of defense and the right of access to families, should be protected.”
He said perpetrators should be held accountable and called for enhanced monitoring of cases involving alleged enforced disappearances.
“There should also be enhanced monitoring of cases involving enforced disappearances, for example. These are elements which, in our view, are manageable and should be implemented,” he said. “So far, speaking with different stakeholders, the answers are slightly different in tone. But the question is really up to the government to decide whether, because of its position on security, it wants to move on this issue and in which direction.
“We very much expect, and we explain to all stakeholders, that this is one of the essential areas where we really need progress.”
The EU envoy also raised concerns about judicial proceedings, including military trials of civilians and the treatment of political opponents in detention. Karoblis said the EU was raising political pluralism, the rule of law and human rights in its dialogue with Pakistan.
“Political pluralism is one of the issues which we are raising in our human rights dialogues, in the specific subgroup on democracy, rule of law and human rights,” he said. “In these cases, the same as with the majority of other cases involving people who are in prison, we are looking primarily at issues such as conditions of imprisonment, conditions relating to torture, for example. We are also looking at issues concerning the right of defense and similar matters.”
He stressed that the EU was not attempting to determine the guilt or innocence of individuals in particular cases.
“Only the court should make the decision as to whether this person is guilty or not guilty, and I hope that in this case also the court will make a proper and justified verdict, one way or another,” he said.
On the trial of civilians in military courts, Karoblis said Pakistan’s security concerns were recognized but questioned whether such measures were proportionate. He linked the issue to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR), which provides fair trial guarantees.
“It is really up to experts to look at this in more detail,” he said.
Karoblis rejected the suggestion that Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role, including its efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran and its engagement on Gaza, could provide Islamabad with political leverage in the GSP+ process.
“We very much appreciate the leadership of Pakistan in this mediation,” he said, but stressed that the GSP+ process was based on objective criteria and assessments by experts and U.N. monitoring bodies.
“Political influence to affect the process positively or to provide a push is very limited,” he said.
The message from Brussels, therefore, is that Pakistan’s diplomatic importance will not substitute for progress on human rights, he added.
Afghan Refugees 
The ambassador called for protection of Afghan refugees who would face danger if returned to Afghanistan.
“Afghan refugees have lived in Pakistan for 40 years and have been quite integrated into society,” he said. “I don’t see that they have created an additional burden for Pakistan. On the contrary, they have contributed significantly to GDP.”
Those who are eligible for international protection, for whom it is dangerous to return to Afghanistan, and vulnerable groups, should be protected, he said.
“Our expectation is that special care should be given to these categories of people. Deportation should not take place in such cases,” he said. “For other Afghans, their movement should, of course, be organized, carried out with dignity, and with guarantees concerning their property and other rights.”
Karoblis said that although Pakistan had not ratified all refugee-related conventions, the principle of non-refoulement remained binding. The ambassador ultimately framed the EU’s human rights concerns as extending beyond the GSP+ mechanism itself.
Asked why the EU was concerned about Pakistan’s treatment of its most vulnerable citizens, he said, “We are not talking about European-level standards, but about the United Nations conventions on human rights.”
“The economy and society cannot be prosperous if people are not free, and human rights are actually one of the essential elements,” he said. “It has also been proven by practice in all EU countries and in Europe in general. Of course, we are one of the promoters of human rights, but Pakistan is also a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The question, of course, is about implementation, and about vulnerable people. Once again, I repeat that society cannot be prosperous if a person is not free and if he or she does not enjoy the basic rights that constitute human rights.”]]></content:encoded>
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