January 12, 2025
By Rashid Leghari
MIRPURKHAS
A climate of fear grips Khan Shah Colony in the Tando Jan Muhammad town of District Mirpurkhas. The family of 15-year-old Premee Bheel daughter of Mohan Bheel, looks toward authorities with hopeful eyes for her recovery, but two weeks have passed without any progress.
According to the family, in the early hours of morning, four men abducted Premee Bheel, from their hut early in the morning. They allege that a man named Shahbaz Mehar is the one behind the abduction.
“My daughter is just 15 years old, and this has been verified by NADRA records,” says Mohan Bheel. “She was taken away by four men, but it is Shahbaz Mehar who has abducted her and is now claiming forced conversion and marriage.”
Police refusal despite court orders
Mohan Bheel also said that a judge from Badin Sessions’ court had ordered the Mirpurkhas police to register a case of Premee’s abduction, but that the police refused to file the case.
“Police are not willing to register an abduction case,” he says. “No one is ready to help—neither do the police listen, nor are the landlords helping. We don’t even have money left to hire a lawyer,” laments Bheel.
Protesting alongside is the girl’s mother Chando Bheel.
“Authorities must help to recover my 15 year old daughter,” she cries. “We are helpless…my husband is so worried he can’t even go to work anymore. We need justice now.”
Premee’s grandmother Mai Bai Bheel, angry and grieving, said, “We are very distressed. My granddaughter must be recovered. She has been taken away by force.”
Police negligence
The affected family’s lawyer, Advocate Bhagwan Das, explained, “A case should be registered under abduction and child marriage laws regarding Premee Bheel. If Section 3/4 is included, then a case will be registered against those arranging the underage marriage and the Nikah Khwan (marriage officiant) as well.”
He added, “Here the police do not include sections related to child marriage—they only include abduction sections. Forced marriage is illegal under the country’s laws.”
In Pakistan, marriage under 18 years of age and forced religious conversion are illegal, but in Premee Bheel’s case, neither have these laws been enforced nor has protection been provided to the affected family.
Meanwhile, Mirpurkhas police refused to comment on Premee Bheel’s abduction.
Appeal for justice
The girl’s family has appealed to the provincial and federal governments to immediately recover Premee and ensure implementation of court orders. Marriage at a young age is a clear violation of the country’s laws, and strict action should be taken against it.