October 2, 2024
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
A hearing was held at the Islamabad High Court in the court of Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir of Islamabad regarding the extradition of minor Christian girl Anila Masih, who was abducted from the limits of Khana police station in Islamabad on June 24.
The court disposed off the case by directing to file an application in the session court forum regarding the extradition of the girl child.
After the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Shehryar Shams, told Voicepk that the girl had been abducted by her neighbour, and forced to marry and change her religion even though she is a minor. The parents first approached the court for the recovery of the girl, but the DC illegally handed over the girl to the accused. The girls’ parents have been hoping that the courts help hand over the girl. They will now approach the Sessions’ court for the handover of the girl.
Human rights activist Safdar Chaudhry, who has been lobbying for the case, says that there should be legislation on forced conversion in the country so that such incidents can be prevented. He said that it was due to lack of legislation, that such incidents were taking place and perpetrators were acting with impunity.
Nadeem Masih, a social worker belonging to the Christian community, pushed for the handing over of Alina Masih to her parents.
CONTEXT
On June 24, 2024, Alina Masih, whose age her parents say was 14 years, was lured outside her home by a neighbour and was abducted. She remained missing despite her parents searching for her. Eventually the family reported the case to the Khanna police station but they accused the police of not putting in any effort in searching for their daughter.
Eventually a month later after the court gave directives to the police, the girl was located and found and was handed over the Child Protection Bureau. The family had filed a petition for her handing over to them on September 10 however on the 13 the accused once again, having sought permission from the District Commissioner, took away Alina from the CPB and since then has had her with them. This new turn in the case has made the parents even more worried while the High Court has asked them to take the issue to the Sessions’ court first.