On 6 July 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of 13-year-old Maria Shahbaz in Pakistan, and calling for stronger protections for minor girls, particularly from religious minorities. The resolution, tabled by the S&D and Greens/EFA groups, warns that failure by Pakistan to implement human rights commitments should result in the withdrawal of its GSP+ trade preferences.
The case of Maria Shahbaz, a Hindu girl, has drawn international attention after Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court in March 2026 rejected a petition by her father, validating her forced conversion to Islam and marriage to her abductor. The Pakistani Government has since formed a national consultative committee to review the case and propose measures against forced conversions and marriages. According to the resolution, in 2025 roughly 75% of those affected were Hindu and 25% Christian, with almost 80% of cases in Sindh province.
The resolution calls on Pakistan to intensify efforts to eradicate forced conversions and marriages, review legislative gaps, enforce child protection laws, and improve judicial training. It urges prompt, impartial investigations into all allegations and accountability for all actors involved. It also expresses concern over the use of blasphemy, anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to target minorities and civil society, citing recent convictions of Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha, Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shahji.
The Parliament calls on the EU to raise these issues in the EU-Pakistan GSP+ dialogue, warning that failure to implement human rights commitments should result in withdrawal of GSP+ status. The resolution is a strong signal to both Islamabad and Brussels, putting trade preferences at the centre of human rights leverage. The impact on stakeholders is significant: for Pakistani authorities, the resolution increases pressure to reform laws and judicial practices; for EU policymakers, it reinforces the link between trade benefits and human rights compliance; for victims and minority communities, it provides international backing; and for EU businesses trading under GSP+, it introduces potential trade disruption if preferences are withdrawn. The resolution now awaits follow-up by the European Commission and the Council in the GSP+ monitoring process.