A federal court in Pakistan has ordered a Christian girl at the center of an alleged forced conversion case to be placed in a government shelter while authorities conduct a medical examination to determine whether she is a minor.
The May 6 order by Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court came amid conflicting claims over the age of Sonia Tariq, whose family says she is 15 years old and was subjected to forced conversion and marriage.
The case was heard by a two-member bench composed of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice K.K. Agha. The court directed that Sonia be transferred to a Dar-ul-Aman, a government-run shelter home, pending further proceedings and the results of an ossification test to be completed within a week.
During the hearing, the judges questioned the reliability of official documents used to establish Sonia’s age.
Sonia appeared before the court accompanied by police officials and individuals allegedly linked to her conversion. She told the court she was 20 years old, while her family, represented by lawyer Saqib Jillani, argued that records issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority showed she was still a minor.
According to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement-UK, or CLAAS-UK, Justice Farooq remarked during proceedings that official records in Pakistan could be manipulated and should not automatically be treated as conclusive evidence.
The court also acknowledged the “sensitive nature of the case,” including possible coercion, undue influence, and pressure on the girl, the rights group said.
Nasir Saeed, director of CLAAS-UK, welcomed the court’s decision to place Sonia in “a safe and neutral environment” and order an independent medical assessment, describing it as “a serious and balanced approach by the bench in a highly sensitive case.”
Saeed said the family had been seeking justice since 2024 with support from CLAAS-UK and its local partner, The Edge Foundation.
He said the case also reflected wider concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan.
“Forced conversions and marriages of minor Christian and Hindu girls remain a deeply troubling reality in Pakistan,” Saeed said, adding that such cases often involve “coercion, intimidation, and gaps in legal protection.”
The court ordered Sonia to remain under state protection pending the outcome of the medical examination and the next hearing scheduled for May 20.
CLAAS-UK said the family has reportedly faced threats and security concerns as advocacy groups continue to monitor the case and provide legal support.
