Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 28th December 2025, 10:04 AM
Dhaka, 28 December 2025 – Reports indicate a disturbing trend of abductions and forced religious conversions targeting minority girls in Pakistan. While Hindus comprise only around 1.6% of the country’s population, there have been repeated incidents—particularly in Sindh province—where Hindu girls are abducted, compelled to embrace Islam, and coerced into marriage with Muslim men. Similar cases involving Christian and Sikh girls have also been documented.
Human rights organisations have, for years, recorded hundreds of such cases annually. According to the National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP), the number of abductions of Christian girls is steadily rising, while members of the Kalash community have also reported forced conversions in the media. The victims are frequently adolescent girls from impoverished, lower-caste families, with some as young as 12 years old.
In a recent case in Kunri, Mirpurkhas District, a Hindu minor named Sunita was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to a significantly older Muslim man. Following judicial intervention and police action, she was returned safely to her family. Local Hindu leader Chander Kohli remarked, “This is not an isolated incident. Poor families, lacking the means to pursue legal recourse, are particularly vulnerable.”
Another example involves Rita, a Hindu teenager, who was forced into marriage with a 65-year-old cleric. She has stated unequivocally that she refuses to abandon her original faith.
The following table summarises notable incidents from 2003 to 2020:
| Year | Age | Name | Location | Community/Religion | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 | Unknown | NWFP | Sikh | Abducted by Afridi tribe; claimed to have converted |
| 4 Jan 2005 | 16,18 | Hemi, Marvi | Umerkot, Kunri | Hindu | Abduction |
| 3 Mar 2005 | 14 | Razi | Mirpurkhas, Aslam Town | Hindu | Abduction |
| 22 Dec 2005 | 13 | Mashu | Mirpurkhas, Dhalluri | Hindu | Abduction |
| 23 Jul 2006 | 15 | Puja | Karachi, Lyari | Hindu | Abduction; court-ordered release ignored |
| 2 Aug 2006 | 16 | Komal | Karachi, Hawks Bay | Hindu | Abduction |
| 31 Dec 2006 | 17 | Deepa | Sindh, Tharparkar | Hindu | Abduction |
| May 2007 | Unknown | Unknown | NWFP, Charsadda | Christian | Threatened with violence for refusing conversion |
| Jun 2009 | Unknown | Unknown | Pakistan | Christian | Rape and murder due to refusal to convert (ICC report) |
| 23 Sep 2014 | Unknown | Jyoti Kumari | Sindh, Larkana | Hindu | Abduction |
| 14–19 May 2014 | 57 | Unknown | Unknown | Hindu | Forced conversions due to economic pressures |
| 2017 | Unknown | Unknown | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hangu | Sikh | Forced conversion by government official |
| 29 Apr 2017 | 17 | Priya Kaur | Buner District | Sikh | Abduction |
| Jun 2017 | 16 | Rabita Meghwar | Sindh | Hindu | Abduction |
| 2019 | Unknown | Reena & Ravina | Pakistan | Hindu | Attempted forced conversion; Indian Foreign Ministry involved |
| Jan 2019 | 16 | Anusha Kumari | Pakistan | Hindu | Abduction; no effective action taken |
| 2019 | Unknown | Unknown | Punjab | Sikh | Abduction and forced conversion; returned home blocked |
| 2020 | 15 | Mehak Kumari | Pakistan | Hindu | Abduction, forced conversion, coerced marriage; later rescued |
| 2020 | Unknown | Unknown | Pakistan | Christian | 14-year-old abducted, forcibly converted, married; court legitimised |
Despite repeated reports, local NGOs note that many adolescent girls still struggle to access legal assistance. Incidents in Sindh, South Punjab, and the north-western frontier are reportedly increasing.
Human rights defenders emphasise that urgent action is required. International engagement, legal protection, and rigorous enforcement are essential to safeguard the rights, education, and safety of minor girls in Pakistan.
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