Mithi, Sindh- 31 January 2026
Another deeply disturbing case highlighting the vulnerability of minority children in Pakistan has emerged from Mithi, Tharparkar. A minor Hindu girl, Guddi Kolhi, believed by her family and community members to be only 13 years old, has reportedly been forcibly converted and married off under circumstances that raise serious legal and human-rights concerns.
According to information shared by the victim’s family and local sources, documents issued by a so-called conversion center allegedly linked to Pir Ayub Jan Sarhandi list the girl’s age as 19 years. This sharp discrepancy has fueled strong suspicions of age falsification, a tactic frequently reported in cases where child marriages are retroactively “legalized” through forged or manipulated records.
A Pattern of Coercion, Not Consent
Human-rights defenders emphasize that cases like this often follow a troubling pattern:
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A minor girl is taken away from her family
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She is kept in isolation or under pressure
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Conversion papers are issued without independent verification
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Her age is altered to bypass child-protection laws
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Marriage is conducted immediately to prevent recovery
Experts stress that a child cannot give informed consent—neither to conversion nor to marriage—under any legal or ethical framework. Presenting such acts as “religious” is widely criticized as a misuse of faith to mask coercion and abuse.
Clear Violation of Sindh Law
Under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, the minimum legal age for marriage is 18 years for both girls and boys. Any marriage involving a minor is a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and fines—not only for those arranging the marriage, but also for clerics who solemnize it and individuals who facilitate it.
Additionally, Pakistan’s child-protection laws require:
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Medical age determination when age is disputed
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Free and safe recovery of the child
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Judicial oversight in cases involving minors
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Protection from intimidation or coercion
Altering documents to misrepresent a child’s age may also constitute forgery and fraud, compounding the legal violations.
Growing Concern Over Forced Conversions
Tharparkar and other districts of Sindh have seen repeated allegations involving forced conversions of minority girls, particularly from Hindu and Christian communities. Civil society organizations and international observers have long warned that lack of accountability allows such practices to continue with impunity.
Activists argue that when clerics, local influencers, or conversion centers operate without scrutiny, it undermines the rule of law and places children at grave risk.
Demands for Immediate Action
The family of Guddi Kolhi, supported by rights advocates, has issued urgent demands:
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Immediate recovery of Guddi Kolhi and her safe return to protective custody
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Independent medical and judicial age verification
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Criminal action against the cleric and all facilitators involved in the marriage
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Strict enforcement of child-protection and child-marriage laws
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Protection for the family from harassment or retaliation
A Child’s Place Is With Her Family
This case is not about religion. It is about a child’s right to safety, identity, and childhood. No belief system justifies the marriage of a minor, the falsification of records, or the separation of a child from her parents through coercion.
A child belongs with her family, in school, and under the protection of the law- not trapped in a forced marriage enabled by forged documents and silence.
The authorities must act decisively. Justice delayed, in cases like this, is justice denied.
For more updates and detailed coverage of this case and other issues affecting the Hindu and Sindhi communities in Sindh, Pakistan, stay tuned to Sindh Renaissance.
