News Desk
Lahore:
A 12-year-old Christian girl, Saba Shafiq, has allegedly been abducted from Lahore by a Muslim man, Muhammad Ali, and forcibly married to him. Despite the passage of over a month, her family claims authorities have failed to take action to recover her.
Shafiq Masih, Saba’s father, expressed deep distress over his daughter’s disappearance, stating that she went missing on January 5, 2025, while going to buy milk. He accused his coworker, Muhammad Ali, aged between 30-35 years, of being responsible. “Ali initially claimed he was in Sialkot for his Nikkah, but witness accounts and CCTV footage confirm his involvement in my daughter’s abduction,” Masih said. He further lamented the lack of police action, adding, “Despite our repeated pleas, the authorities say they are waiting for orders. My daughter is just a child—who has no understanding of life’s complexities. I implore the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Chief Justice to intervene and bring her home safely.”, he laments
Advocate Malik Irfan Awan, the family’s lawyer, emphasized that Saba’s birth records clearly establish her minor status. “A child at this age cannot make an independent decision about marriage or religion. If there is any challenge to her birth certificate, a medical examination will confirm that she is underage,” he explained.
Irfan also raised concerns over police inaction and alleged bias in favor of the abductor’s family. “It is alarming that, despite clear evidence, the authorities have failed to act. Now that Saba has been taken to another province, legal challenges have increased, but we are committed to overcoming them to ensure justice for her and her family,” he asserted.
As the legal fight continues, Saba’s family remains determined to secure her safe return, raising urgent concerns over her protection.