April 7, 2024
BILAL BASEER
ISLAMABAD
Aurat March Islamabad organizers on Saturday, April 5, held a protest outside the National Press Club (NPC) to denounce law enforcement agencies’ failure in recovering Priya Kumari. Carrying portraits of the minor girl, lambasted the government for only springing into action when the matter was raised on social media.
Kumari was abducted from her home village of Sanghrar in Salehpat tehsil, Sukkur, nearly three years ago on August 19, 2021. The seven-year-old and her father were handing out drinks at a sabeel to mourners of a Muharram procession, as per a tradition practiced by the local Hindu community, when she vanished.
A first information report (FIR) was lodged at the Sanghrar police station under sections 34 and 364 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against unidentified persons. While a formal investigation was launched, police till date have been unable to trace the whereabouts of the girl nor her captors.
Shahzadi Hussain, a member of the Women Democratic Front (WDF), claimed that the police kept giving Kumari’s kin and their community false hopes, adding more to the sorrows of a family that is still reeling from the shock of the girl’s disappearance.
“I question Sindh’s sardars, who are abusing their powers to abduct innocent children and detain them in their houses. We condemn this and demand the release of all such abductees,” she said.
The urgency surrounding Kumari’s safe recovery waned over time, only renewing during Holi this year when videos of her mother tearfully pleading for her daughter’s return began circulating on social media. In one such video, she announces that the whole family will leave Pakistan once her daughter is found, which drew widespread criticism and a series of protests against the state for its apathy towards the case.
Last week, on April 2, the Sindh Government formed a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising Mirpurkhas DIG Javed Jiskani, Hyderabad SSP Amjad Shaikh, Shaheed Benazirabad SSP Tanveer Tunio, as well as two DSPs. The team is has been tasked with submitting a report on the investigation into the case.
Addressing attendees at Saturday’s demonstration, Aurat March Islamabad organizer Dr. Farzana Bari said it is deplorable that such human rights violations occur frequently. She questioned the role and performance of law enforcement agencies, as it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of minority communities.
“The incident raises several questions for us as citizens, for law enforcement agencies and for the state. How many more Priyas will we lose before the state accepts responsibility for every citizen? We need to rise above factional and ethnic differences, and treat all humans equally instead of overlooking crimes committed against members of marginalized communities,” she asserted.
The protesters called for the safe recovery of Priya and other children who are currently missing or being held captive.