A harrowing tale of exploitation has emerged from Pakistan’s Punjab, where a 13-year-old Christian schoolgirl from Sahiwal district was allegedly kidnapped, pressured into adopting Islam, and forced into marriage with Ali Haider, a Muslim youth from the Jatt community. Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) brought this to light, criticizing the lack of child and minority protections in the nation.
The child’s family embodies fragility: the father, disabled, ekes out a living selling eggs, while the mother suffers from a leg injury that leaves her immobile. Their daughter’s vanishing has plunged them into despair, compounded by relentless threats to silence their pleas for help.
VOPM emphasized how poverty and disability trap families in fear, making resistance nearly impossible. Local voices echo this outrage, viewing the event as a profound violation of fundamental rights.
Days after the abduction, recovery efforts stall, allowing the perpetrators to hold sway. Activists argue these crimes flourish amid power disparities and weak enforcement, preying on the defenseless.
In a strong appeal, VOPM insists on immediate action: retrieve the girl safely, prioritize her well-being, end the intimidation, and treat this as a criminal case involving a minor. Dismissing it as a ‘personal issue’ would only perpetuate injustice.
As global attention turns to Pakistan, this case demands not just resolution but a reckoning with the patterns of forced conversions that endanger lives. Stronger safeguards and impartial policing are essential to restore faith in the system.