Sahiwal, Punjab | January 22
A deeply disturbing case has emerged from Chak No. 47/12-L in Tehsil Chichawatni, District Sahiwal, where a 13-year-old Christian girl was allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and coerced into marriage — a sequence of events that her family and community say reflects a wider pattern of neglect toward minority rights in Pakistan.
According to the family, the child- a sixth-grade student — was abducted on January 22 by a man identified as Ali Haider, son of Gulzar, reportedly belonging to the Muslim Jatt community. The family alleges that following her abduction, the minor was forced to convert her religion and subsequently compelled into a marriage with the same individual accused of kidnapping her.
The girl’s parents describe themselves as extremely vulnerable. Her mother is disabled due to a leg fracture, while her father is physically impaired and earns a meager living by selling eggs. Already struggling with poverty and illness, the family says the abduction of their daughter has shattered what little stability they had.
The father further alleges that when he attempted to resist and seek help, he was brutally beaten, and the family has since been subjected to intimidation and threats aimed at silencing them and preventing legal action. Community members claim that fear and pressure have become tools used against the family to force acceptance of the crime rather than justice.
Human rights advocates and local Christian representatives have strongly condemned the incident, calling it a grave violation of child rights, religious freedom, and the rule of law. They warn that forced conversions and abductions — particularly involving underage girls from poor minority families — are too often treated as routine or ignored altogether.
“This is not just about one child,” a community representative stated. “When such cases are dismissed or delayed, it sends a message that perpetrators can act without consequence. Silence becomes dangerous.”
Days after the reported abduction, the family says there has been no meaningful progress in recovering the child. The lack of swift intervention has raised serious concerns about the safety of the girl and the protection of her parents, who continue to live under fear.
Rights groups emphasize that a child cannot legally or morally consent to religious conversion or marriage. If the allegations are true, the case represents not only a criminal act but an assault on childhood itself- stripping a minor of her right to education, safety, family, and freedom of belief.
The demands from the community and advocates are clear:
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Immediate recovery and protection of the child
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Safety and security for the family
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A transparent legal investigation
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Accountability for all those involved in abduction, coercion, and child marriage
At the heart of this case is not a political debate or a statistic- but a 13-year-old girl who should be in school, safe at home, and protected by law. Until justice is delivered, her absence remains a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by minority children in Pakistan and the urgent need for action rather than silence.
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the minority communities in Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
