Five Muslims Abduct Christian Girl in Pakistan
On January 9, 2025, five Muslims abduct a Christian girl in Pakistan. 14-year-old Saneha Sharif, a Christian girl from Sialkot, Punjab, was abducted by five individuals, sparking outrage among minority rights advocates in Pakistan. According to her father, Sharif Masih, the abductors likely plan to forcibly convert her to Islam and marry her to one of the suspects. Witnesses reported that Saneha was lured out of her home by a Muslim neighbor and then forcibly taken in a van. The group included two women, one of whom was the mother of the girl who had enticed Saneha.
Masih, a sweeper and member of the Brethren Church, identified Muhammad Dildar among the suspects, a man who had persistently harassed his daughter despite her repeated rejections. Although police have arrested two suspects, including Samina Usman and Shabbir Ahmed, Saneha remains missing, and no substantial progress has been made to locate her or apprehend the remaining suspects.
Police Inaction and Systemic Challenges
Masih expressed frustration over the lack of action by the local police. Despite providing cell phone numbers and leads to trace the suspects, the investigating officer has reportedly made no effort to locate Saneha or the primary suspect. The father believes his poverty and Christian faith have contributed to the authorities' indifference.
“It’s been nearly two weeks since Saneha was taken, and we fear she will be forced to convert and marry Dildar,” Masih lamented. His wife’s health has deteriorated due to the stress, requiring multiple hospital visits. Desperate for intervention, Masih has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the police inspector general to take decisive action against the perpetrators.
This incident highlights the systemic bias and lack of accountability in cases involving minority communities. Rights groups have long criticized the Pakistani government for its failure to protect vulnerable minorities, particularly women and girls. Forced conversions and marriages are rampant, with many victims coerced into giving false statements to protect their captors. Judges often disregard evidence, returning victims to their abductors under the guise of marriage.
Calls for Legislative and International Action
The abduction of Saneha has reignited demands for legal reforms to protect minority girls in Pakistan. Activists are urging the Punjab Assembly to pass a pending bill that would raise the minimum marriage age for both boys and girls to 18 years. Currently, the legal marriage age for girls is 16, except under sharia law, which allows Muslim girls to marry at a younger age.
Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha emphasized the urgent need for stricter laws to prevent child marriages and forced conversions. “Until the government passes and enforces the new law, minority girls will remain vulnerable to predators seeking to exploit them under the guise of marriage,” he said.
Not actual photo of Saneha Sharif
International bodies have also expressed concern over Pakistan’s human rights record. The U.N. Human Rights Committee highlighted persistent reports of abductions and forced marriages of minority girls, regardless of their age. Victims often endure rape, trafficking, and other forms of sexual violence, with little to no recourse for justice. The U.N. has urged Pakistan to strengthen its legal framework and ensure prompt, impartial investigations into such cases.
“The state must ensure that victims have access to effective remedies, including shelters, legal aid, and psychological counseling,” the committee stated. “Perpetrators must be held accountable to deter future crimes.”
Pakistan ranks eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most challenging countries for Christians. The abduction of Saneha Sharif underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect minority communities from persecution and exploitation.