Palm Sunday protests over 'Maria case' verdict

A wave of protests swept across the city on Sunday as members of the Christian community and human rights activists rallied against a recent court ruling in the widely debated "Maria case," calling it a threat to the safety and rights of minority girls.

Demonstrators gathered outside the Karachi Press Club, urging authorities to ensure immediate protection for underage girls and to enact stronger legislation against forced religious conversions and child marriages. Protest leaders appealed to the Constitutional Court of Pakistan to revisit the verdict, which they say has heightened fears among minority communities.

The protests coincided with Palm Sunday observances, as Christian worshippers marked the occasion with rallies, prayers, and hymns. Participants carried palm branches in symbolic remembrance of Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem, while also praying for peace, security, and national prosperity. Palm Sunday is a major Christian holiday held on the Sunday before Easter, marking Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where crowds laid palms in his path. It begins Holy Week, commemorating his final days, crucifixion, and resurrection.

In parallel demonstrations, including one organised by the National Christian Party, young girls held placards demanding justice in the Maria case and calling for enforcement of laws prohibiting marriages under 18. Speakers warned of a growing pattern of alleged abductions, forced conversions, and marriages involving minor Christian girls.

Community leaders questioned how minors - who cannot legally obtain identity documents - could be deemed capable of changing their religion, urging the government, president, and prime minister to take immediate notice. They also called for the repeal of what they described as "controversial laws" and vowed to raise their voice on every available platform until safeguards are ensured.

The demonstrations underscored mounting anxiety within the Christian community, with activists warning that without urgent legal reforms and judicial review, vulnerable groups - particularly young girls - remain at serious risk.