Teen Christian girl kidnapped at gunpoint in 2023
A Christian teenager in Pakistan who was abducted at gunpoint from her home in 2023 has escaped after nearly two years of captivity.
Muskan Liaqat, abducted from her home in Muridke at age 14, endured two years of brutal abuse and forced conversion before finally escaping in June 2025, and is now under legal and protective care as authorities take action against her alleged captors, The Christian Post reported.
On the night of May 24, 2023, Muskan Liaqat was forcibly taken from her family home in Muridke, a city in Pakistan’s Sheikhupura District. She was abducted by a man named Muhammad Adnan and his father, Muhammad Arif. At the time of the abduction, Muskan was only 14 years old.
Forcible Conversion and Abuse During Captivity
Following the abduction, Muskan was transported to the captors’ residence where she was subjected to physical torture and intimidation. Under pressure, she was forced to affix her thumbprints to documents presented as proof of her conversion to Islam and her alleged marriage to Adnan. These documents would later be used in legal proceedings to distort the nature of her captivity.
Throughout her time in captivity, Muskan was subjected to repeated sexual assault and beatings with an iron rod. The abuse led to a pregnancy in 2024, which ended in a miscarriage during the fourth month due to the continued trauma she suffered at the hands of Adnan.
Muskan described the constant fear and loneliness she felt, praying every night for relief. She even attempted suicide by cutting her wrist, convinced that it was the only way to escape her situation. Her identity as a Christian subjected her to daily verbal abuse and slurs from her captor.
Family Seeks Help Amidst Police Inaction
Her parents, devastated and desperate for answers, tried to report the abduction to the local police after her disappearance, but their application was not accepted. Their search efforts yielded no results. Liaqat Masih, Muskan’s father and a mason by trade, became ill from the emotional toll, leaving the family financially unstable.
The family eventually contacted Christians’ True Spirit (CTS), a Christian nonprofit offering support in such cases. CTS filed a habeas corpus petition after Muskan managed to call her older sister on May 26, 2025, revealing her location and the identity of her captors. The court ordered the local authorities to present Muskan in court.
When presented in court, Muskan gave a statement indicating she had willingly converted and married Adnan. CTS leaders understood the context and concluded she had spoken under threat. Muskan later confirmed she was coerced into making that statement due to threats against her and her family.
Escape and Protective Measures
On June 3, 2025, Muskan found an opportunity to escape when Adnan left her unattended. She fled from captivity and contacted her family. Her father immediately reached out again to Christians’ True Spirit, fearing the captors would attempt to reclaim her through legal loopholes.
CTS responded by relocating Muskan to a secure location to prevent any further attempts at abduction. The organization also took steps to initiate a criminal case against Muhammad Adnan, vowing to ensure prosecution for the crimes committed against Muskan.
CTS’s Executive Director, Katherine Sapna, expressed deep concern over the trauma Muskan endured. She acknowledged that recovery would take time but stressed that her organization is committed to her full healing. Medical and psychological support is now being provided.
Ongoing Legal Case and Family Support
Sapna also confirmed that CTS is offering legal aid to Muskan and her family. Calling attention to the systemic failures, she criticized the local police for initially ignoring the family’s report. She stated that Muskan’s case is not isolated and reflects broader issues affecting religious minorities in Pakistan.
Muskan’s emotional and physical scars are deep, but her will to survive has brought her back to her family. She expressed gratitude toward her parents for believing she had not left by choice and to God for helping her return. The family remains under financial strain, now receiving aid through CTS.
Pakistan, where over 96% of the population is Muslim, ranks eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 list of countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Cases like Muskan’s highlight the intersection of forced religious conversion, gender-based violence, and systemic neglect.
