News Desk
Sialkot, January 30, 2025:
A 14-year-old Christian girl, Saneha Sharif, was abducted on January 9 from outside her home in Sialkot, Punjab by five Muslim suspects, including two women, her father, Sharif Masih, said. He fears the kidnappers may forcibly convert her to Islam and marry her off to one of the accused, Dildar, who had been harassing her despite her repeated refusals. A neighbor witnessed the abduction, seeing Saneha being forced into a van after being lured outside by a Muslim girl from a newly settled family in the area.
Masih, a Christian sweeper, promptly reported the crime, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Samina Usman and Shabbir Ahmed. However, police have made little progress in locating Saneha or apprehending the remaining culprits. While one suspect is in judicial custody and the other remains in police detention, neither has provided information leading to the girl’s recovery. Masih said the family even gave police mobile numbers linked to the suspects, but authorities have yet to take significant action.
Frustrated by the inaction, Masih believes his Christian faith and economic status are why police are not prioritizing the case. He accused the police of neglecting the search for Saneha. With nearly two weeks passed since the abduction, Masih fears his daughter may already have been forced to convert and marry against her will.
Joseph Janssen, minority rights activist, has linked the abduction of 14-year-old Saneha Sharif to a disturbing pattern of Christian girls from poor families being targeted for forced conversions and marriages. He highlighted how these cases often follow a similar trajectory—girls are lured away or kidnapped, coerced into converting to Islam, and then married to their captors, only to suffer severe abuse. Janssen also pointed out that courts frequently disregard documentary evidence proving the victims are minors and pressure them into making false statements in favor of their abductors.
“Whether the girl was abducted or lured away, these cases reveal a consistent pattern of abuse,” Janssen said. “We see time and again that minor Christian girls end up being severely exploited and, in some cases, trafficked. The lack of legal protections and the impunity granted to perpetrators only embolden these crimes.”
Human Rights advocate Mirjam Bos, also echoed his concerns, stressing that the psychological and physical trauma inflicted on these girls is immense. “The absence of effective legal protections and the culture of impunity for perpetrators only exacerbate the vulnerability of these girls and women,” she added.
She further argued, “As a beneficiary of the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), Pakistan is required to uphold 27 human rights conventions, including protections against child marriage and coerced conversions under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). However, ongoing violations of these obligations have drawn criticism from the European Parliament, which has warned that Pakistan’s GSP+ status could be at risk if it fails to take concrete action to protect minority girls, she maintained
Dr. Adeel Ghouri, a prominent human rights activist, has condemned the abduction of 14-year-old Saneha Sharif, calling it a gross violation of human rights. He expressed deep concern over the growing trend of Christian girls being abducted, forcibly converted, and married off against their will. Dr. Ghouri urged the authorities to take immediate action, stressing the need for a swift and just resolution to the case.
“This is not just an individual tragedy; it reflects a systemic issue affecting marginalized communities,” Dr. Ghouri said. “The family of Saneha Sharif, already struggling with poverty, deserves justice, and it is the responsibility of the government and law enforcement to ensure that justice is delivered in a timely and fair manner.” He called for a thorough investigation and swift legal action to hold the perpetrators accountable, warning that the lack of prompt action would only perpetuate the cycle of abuse and exploitation faced by minority communities in Pakistan.
Azhar S. Malik, Chairman of The Edge Foundation, has strongly condemned the abduction of 14-year-old Saneha Sharif, expressed grave concern over the increasing cases of underage Christian girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted, and married against their will, he warned that such crimes are creating a climate of fear within the Christian community.
“I am deeply troubled by the growing cases of underage Christian girls being kidnapped, forcibly converted, and married off against their will,” Malik said. “These incidents are not isolated but part of a broader issue that is causing immense distress. The frequency of such crimes highlights the urgent need for immediate government intervention.”
After personally meeting Saneha’s parents, Malik said he was deeply moved by their anguish. “Her father, Sharif Masih, is a hardworking man struggling to support his family, and now he is fighting for his daughter’s return. The pain in their eyes was heartbreaking,” he shared. His organization has taken up Saneha’s case, providing legal assistance to her family. “Our legal team is working tirelessly to ensure justice is served. We are committed to using all legal avenues to bring Saneha home and hold the perpetrators accountable,” he asserted.
Malik criticized the authorities failure to address the rising incidents of abduction, forced conversions, and coerced marriages, emphasizing that existing laws offer little protection to minority girls. “The Christian community is living in fear. These crimes are happening with alarming frequency, yet there is no effective legal deterrent. We demand immediate legislative reforms to prevent such heinous acts and ensure swift justice for the victims,” he urged.
Reaffirming his organization’s commitment to fighting for religious minorities, Malik called on Pakistani authorities to take firm action against those responsible for abducting and exploiting minority girls. “We cannot allow another family to go through this nightmare. The government must act now to protect its most vulnerable citizens,” he concluded