Sheikhupura, Punjab: In a quiet village in Sheikhupura, a family’s world has reportedly been torn apart overnight.
Aneeqa Fiaz is only 13 years old- a Christian girl who, according to her parents, was taken from her home in Village Asa Nagri. Just days ago, she should have been thinking about schoolwork, playing with friends, and enjoying the small, ordinary joys that make childhood feel safe. Instead, her family now says she has been kidnapped, and what followed has been even more horrifying: an alleged forced conversion to Islam and a coerced marriage.
For Aneeqa’s parents, time no longer moves by hours and days. It moves in fear- in unanswered questions, sleepless nights, and the unbearable ache of imagining their young daughter frightened and far from home. Her father, Fiaz Masih, and her mother are reportedly pleading for one thing above all else: their daughter’s safe return.
No politics.
No arguments.
Just their child back in their arms.
Behind their heartbreaking plea lies a fear quietly shared by many minority families in Pakistan- the fear that their faith can make them vulnerable, and that when something unthinkable happens, the road to justice can feel painfully steep.
A Wider Concern Beyond One Family
Rights advocates have long warned that incidents involving kidnappings, alleged forced conversions, and coerced marriages of underage girls remain a serious concern in parts of Pakistan, including Punjab. Families who experience such tragedies often describe being overwhelmed- emotionally, financially, and legally — as they try to fight for their children in a system they fear can be slow, intimidating, and unforgiving.
This creates a chilling sense of insecurity that spreads beyond one household and settles like a shadow over entire communities.
Because when a 13-year-old girl reportedly disappears from her home, it is not only one family that breaks.
It is every mother who now escorts her daughter to the door and waits anxiously until she is safely inside.
It is every father who lies awake at night, feeling powerless against threats he cannot control.
It is every sibling who wonders if their home will ever feel normal again.
A Call for Protection and Justice
A child’s faith- or her family’s faith- should never become a reason for her to be targeted. No society can call itself safe if children can allegedly be taken, renamed, redefined, or married off while their parents are left pleading simply for the chance to see them again.
The cries coming from Aneeqa’s home in Sheikhupura are not only cries of grief. They are pleas for protection, accountability, and the basic promise that every child deserves: the right to grow up without fear.
As this case continues to draw attention, advocates and affected families are demanding urgent action- find Aneeqa, ensure her safe return, and take meaningful steps to protect other vulnerable children so no family has to endure the same pain again.
Because at the center of this story is not just a headline.
It is a 13-year-old girl.
And a family that refuses to stop praying, pleading, and hoping until she is safe.
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the minorities Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
