The abduction of fourteen-year-old Saneha Sharif from her home vicinity in Korpur, Sialkot, has sparked significant community and international concern.

According to the Christian Post, The swift abduction of a young Christian girl by several individuals, including two women, has raised fears of forced conversion and marriage.

Saneha Sharif disappeared on January 9, when a new neighbor reportedly lured her outside her house. Her father, Sharif Masih, described the terrifying moments neighbors witnessed as his daughter was forcibly taken.

Eye-Witness Account Details Traumatic Abduction

Masih stated that his neighbor, Rehan Razaque, saw Saneha being forced into a van. He reported that the abductors included two women, which added complexity to the case. This incident has shocked the local community and underscored ongoing religious tensions.

The abduction has severely affected Saneha’s parents, further deteriorating their health. Masih, who works as a sweeper, voiced his deep concern about the possibility of his daughter being forcibly converted and married to one of the suspects, Muhammad Dildar.

Police Action Questioned by Distraught Family

After the abduction, Masih reported the incident to the local police, who arrested Samina Usman and Shabbir Ahmed. While Samina remains in judicial custody, Ahmed is still in police detention. However, their information has not yet led to Saneha’s recovery.

The family has criticized the police for their efforts to recover the young girl and arrest additional suspects. Masih highlighted the lack of substantial action from Assistant Sub-Inspector Ihsan Ullah, who is leading the investigation.

“The investigating officer, Assistant Sub-Inspector Ihsan Ullah, is making no effort to track the accused,” Masih said, expressing his frustration over the lack of progress in his daughter's case.

Community Calls for Institutional Changes

The dire situation has prompted public calls for legislative changes. Local rights advocates, reacting to the incident, have urged the Punjab government to expedite passing a bill that would raise the legal marriage age to 18. This law aims to safeguard minor girls from forced conversions and marriages, a plight not uncommon in minority communities.

Christian attorney Lazar Allah Rakha emphasized the urgency of this law. “Until the government passes and strictly implements the new law, minority girls and women will continue to be victimized by predators for sexual exploitation,” Rakha stated, highlighting the broader implications of Saneha's abduction.

This case has also caught the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has previously expressed concerns over the forced marriages and abductions of girls from minority religions in Pakistan.

Family's Heartbreaking Plea for Justice

Masih and his wife are enduring an excruciating wait for their daughter’s return, with her mother's health deteriorating to the point of needing hospital treatment due to stress. “We are very weak and can only plead for the higher authorities to save our daughter from these criminals,” Masih implored.

In an emotion-laden appeal, Masih has reached out to the Punjab Chief Minister and the inspector general of police, pleading for enhanced intervention to find his daughter. As the family holds onto hope, the community and activists stand with them, seeking justice and stressing the urgency for protective legislative measures.

The continuous plight of minority communities within Pakistan comes under repeated scrutiny as cases like Saneha’s bring to light the intersecting issues of religious intolerance, legal inadequacies, and societal pressures. The discourse surrounding this event not only seeks immediate justice for Saneha but also a long-term assurance of security for others in her position.