(To protect the victim, real names and locations are not used)
In Pakistan, religious minorities, especially Christian females, are targeted because offenders know they can get away with their crimes. Such sad incidents are not unusual. According to independent estimates, an average of 1,000 Christian and Hindu underage girls are abducted each year in the country.
The constitution of Pakistan itself guarantees the protection of every subject’s rights. But certain laws and practices are misused against religious minorities. Articles 295 B & C deal with punishments to those who show disrespect to Prophet Muhammad and personalities of other religions; sadly, these laws are mostly used against minorities, even misusing the laws to settle personal disputes. In case of such disputes, certain procedures should be followed by police and judiciary but unfortunately are not because of pressure from the religious class.
A Christian girl, Mariam (not her real name), only 13 years of age at the time, was kidnapped by her neighbor in November 2020. The parents approached the local police to search for her. After three days the police officer handed Mariam’s marriage certificate to her parents, the abductor having claimed she converted to Islam. This was a clear case of abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage. She was 13 years at the time of her abduction and marriage, whereas the legal age of marriage in her province is 16 years.
The family argues that her school and birth records prove that Mariam was 13 at the time she was kidnapped, but the defense had a national identity card made and marriage certificate issued claiming that she was over the age of 16.
The case received publicity and after much effort she was recovered and placed in a shelter home, while court hearings progressed. In December 22, 2021 the court decided to hand her over to her parents under certain conditions, including that Mariam’s parents must assure her physical attendance at the local police station every 90 days. The father was concerned about their protection while going to the police station. CAPC became involved, and president Nadeem Bhatti was present in the provincial high court on December 22, 2021, briefly meeting with the family. The family was taken to a safe place within the country on Christmas Eve, 2021.
In January 2022, CAPC filed a petition to the highest court of Pakistan (Supreme Court) against the conditions imposed by the provincial High Court. Finally, after a year, in November 2022, the Court lifted the conditions, and Mariam can now travel and relocate.
Although the court has decided in Mariam’s favor, the threats remain for the family. They live in an area heavily influenced by a prominent religious leader who is banned from entering the UK because of his notoriety facilitating such abductions in the name of religion. The family also fears the abductor’s influence within both the police department and a political party. The abductor’s two brothers are police officers, and all are members of the MQM, or Mutahida Quomi Movement, a very strong political party. Since their brother abducted Mariam, their activity within the party has become much more visible, and the entire family is terrified for their safety. Because of this, her parents contacted Nadeem Bhatti about their security concerns.
Mariam is turning 16 in a few months. The parents fear that if she were kidnapped again, it could be impossible to recover her. The family cannot live freely due to the fear of reprisal by the culprit. In Pakistan, such people are protected by their respective religious groups regardless of their crimes. Satanic minds can twist this case into another form and accuse the victim’s family as blasphemous. Once blasphemy accusations surface only God can save them. Mariam and her family are already facing death threats and need to be protected as soon as possible.
In most cases, even police custody has proved of no benefit as mobs have been known to attack police stations and jails, drag the alleged offender out, kill and burn them. This has happened many times recently in Pakistan where accused persons were killed inside courts, universities, and houses. The most recent case happened on 11 February 2023.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/470312-mob-lynches-alleged-blasphemer-in-nankana-sahib
CAPC’s Stance
There are 7 court cases registered against the culprit (abductor party), which will be ongoing. In the meantime, CAPC plans to urgently pursue this case and relocate this family as soon as possible to a safer place. Keeping in view the severity of the situation, CAPC intends to launch an emergency appeal to quickly save this vulnerable family. For this purpose, we look to our friends and other likeminded individuals and organizations to join hands to fulfill our Lord Jesus Christ’s mandate to set the captives free.