A 14-year-old Christian boy from Sultan Town, Sargodha, who was reportedly kidnapped on 21 July, has appeared, claiming to have converted to Islam of his own free will. His elder brother, Sahil Masih, filed a complaint with the Urban Area Police Station, alleging that Shamraiz Masih, who worked as an apprentice at a local motorcycle repair workshop, had been abducted.
According to the family, Shamraiz was manipulated, mistreated and coerced into religious conversion by his employer and others. A few days after his disappearance, Shamraiz was brought before a magistrate and recorded a statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, declaring that he had embraced Islam voluntarily. However, his family firmly rejects this claim, saying the minor is under psychological pressure and undue influence.
Shamraiz’s mum, Rehana Bibi
The case has sparked political and legal uproar. Christian advocates are demanding a clear policy on the official religious conversion of minors. However, the government has defended the conversion, stating that all legal procedures were followed and declaring Shamraiz’s conversion valid, though he is a minor.
The assertion has been widely condemned by rights groups and legal experts.
Referencing established precedent from the Lahore High Court, sources noted that a child’s religion, in the absence of adulthood, must remain that of their father.
“Shamraiz’s father, who passed away a few months ago, was a Christian. Therefore, according to both constitutional principles and judicial precedent, Shamraiz should remain in the Christian faith until he reaches the age of legal majority and is capable of making an informed choice,” sources said.
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