A Family Torn Apart
Najo Kohli, the eldest of five children—three daughters and two sons—was abducted from her home on the night of February 6, 2025. Her father, Asan Kohli, recounted the horrifying details to The Rise News. Late at night, while the family was asleep, four armed men broke into their home. Holding guns to the heads of Asan and his wife, the men threatened their lives, leaving the family helpless as their daughter was dragged away into a white car.The very next day, Najo’s religion was forcibly changed, and she was married off to Lalo. This horrifying act was carried out without the family’s consent or knowledge.
A Fight for Justice Met with Silence
When Asan Kohli approached the police the following day to register a First Information Report (FIR), he was met with outright refusal. The police callously informed him that his daughter had been converted to Islam and married, and therefore, they would not register a case. “Your daughter’s religion has been converted to Islam and is now married,” an officer told him before ordering him to leave the station.Hoping for support, Kohli turned to local influential figures who promised to assist in bringing his daughter back. However, these promises proved hollow, and the family was left to endure their anguish and helplessness alone.
FIR Registered After 40 Days
It was only after 40 days of continuous struggle that the police finally registered an FIR under the Child Restraint Act against four individuals involved in the abduction. However, the response was inadequate—only one of the four accused has been arrested so far, and there has been no progress in recovering Najo.
Evidence Confirms She’s a Minor
Official documents, including Najo’s birth certificate and school certificate, confirm that she is a minor, born on February 3, 2012, making her only 13 years old. These documents are in the possession of The Rise News and have also been verified by child protection officer Mumtaz Bhatti, who confirmed the girl’s age.Despite clear evidence, Najo’s father fears for his daughter’s safety and well-being as she remains out of reach. “It has been more than a month, and I have no idea what has happened to her,” Kohli said. He continues to plead with the government to intervene and bring his daughter back home.
Sindh: The Growing Crisis of Forced Conversions
This case is yet another addition to the growing list of forced conversions, abductions, and marriages targeting young Hindu girls in Sindh. These acts are often carried out with the complicity of local authorities, leaving families powerless. Despite laws like the Child Restraint Act, enforcement remains weak, and perpetrators often go unpunished.The lack of timely action from the police in Najo’s case highlights a systemic failure to protect minority communities. Delayed justice and the lack of accountability only fuel the cycle of oppression.
A Call for Action
The abduction and forced conversion of 13-year-old Najo Kohli is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern that demands immediate attention. The government must take swift action to ensure Najo’s safe return, prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law, and address the systemic failures that allow such crimes to persist.Sindh’s minority communities deserve protection, justice, and equality under the law. The international community must also take notice of these atrocities and pressure the Pakistani government to uphold the rights of its most vulnerable citizens.
