On 8 July 2026, the European Parliament amended its joint resolution on the abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan, introducing new data on forced conversions and a threat to revoke Pakistan's GSP+ trade preferences if human rights commitments are not met. The amendments, tabled by the S&D, Greens/EFA and The Left groups, add a recital citing 2025 UN figures showing that among women and girls affected by forced conversion through marriage in Pakistan, approximately 75% were Hindu and 25% Christian. A new recital states that Maria Shahbaz's case is emblematic of broader human rights violations against minorities in Pakistan, including arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, harassment of journalists and civil society, and misuse of blasphemy, anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws. The amendments expand victim support to include safe shelters, legal aid, psychological counselling and reintegration programmes, and identify root causes such as gender inequality and discrimination based on caste, gender and religion. They also broaden the EU's dialogue to include political opponents, journalists, civil society and human rights defenders, and specify that failure to implement human rights commitments—including women's and children's rights—should result in the withdrawal of Pakistan's GSP+ status. The joint resolution, backed by the PPE, S&D, ECR, Renew and Verts/ALE groups, is scheduled for a plenary vote. If adopted, it would become Parliament's position, calling on the European Commission and the European External Action Service to take concrete steps, including reviewing trade preferences. The amendments sharpen the resolution by adding specific data, broadening the scope of violations, and introducing a concrete trade-linked consequence, increasing pressure on Pakistan to address human rights abuses.
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