When Will the World Wake Up to the Safety of Minority Girls in Pakistan?

The safety of girls belonging to Pakistan’s Hindu and Sikh minority communities must no longer remain an issue confined to human rights organisations and affected families. It is a test of the Pakistani government’s accountability, the rule of law, and the international community’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations. Reports from Sindh and other parts of Pakistan concerning the alleged abduction, forced conversion, and marriage of underage girls continue to raise serious concerns. The question is straightforward: if a girl is taken from her home against her will, pressured to change her religion, and forced into marriage before reaching adulthood, who will take responsibility for protecting her?

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has raised serious concerns about violations of religious freedom, forced marriages, and conversions. United Nations experts have also expressed concern over reports of the abduction of girls from minority communities and their alleged forced conversion and marriage. These findings should not be dismissed as political propaganda; they must be treated as serious warnings concerning human rights and the rule of law. The concerns expressed by UN experts and reports published by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan underline the urgent need to address this issue.

A recent news report has also highlighted the alleged conversion and marriage of a 13-year-old Hindu schoolgirl in Pakpattan, in Pakistan’s Punjab province. According to the report, the girl’s family has objected to the circumstances surrounding the incident. The specific allegations require independent verification, including examination of the available evidence and statements from all relevant parties. However, if a minor has been forced into religious conversion or marriage against her will, the matter raises grave concerns for any society that claims to uphold human dignity and justice.

Religious conversion is a matter of personal freedom, not coercion, abduction, or intimidation. Marriage requires free and genuine consent. In cases involving minors, their age, safety, and fundamental rights must take precedence. A signed document, a statement made before a court, or a recorded video does not automatically establish that a girl made her decision free from pressure or intimidation. Independent legal assistance, a safe environment, impartial age verification, and appropriate opportunities for contact with family members must be ensured in such cases.

The most serious questions must be directed at the Pakistani government and its law enforcement institutions. If minority families struggle to register complaints about the abduction of their daughters, secure impartial investigations, or obtain justice, the authorities must be held accountable. Mere assurances are not enough. The government should maintain and publish transparent records of such cases, ensure impartial investigations into allegations against those accused, and protect victims and their families from threats. Where police or administrative negligence is established, the officials responsible must also face appropriate action.

The Indian government must fulfil its diplomatic responsibilities effectively. Instead of limiting the issue of the safety of Hindu and Sikh minorities in Pakistan to bilateral discussions, India should raise it at the United Nations Human Rights Council and other appropriate international forums, supported by credible reports and verifiable evidence. India should call on Pakistan to ensure timely investigations, protect victims, facilitate the safe return of minors where they wish to return, and pursue legal action against those found responsible.

India should also work with international human rights organisations and relevant countries to strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms. Wherever possible, affected families should receive access to legal assistance and independent human rights institutions. The purpose of raising this issue must not be to spread hatred against any religious community, but to protect the lives, liberty, dignity, and fundamental rights of vulnerable girls.

The international community has an equally important role to play. There can be no double standards when it comes to the protection of human rights. Whenever credible allegations emerge concerning the abduction, forced conversion, or child marriage of minority girls, there must be demands for investigation and accountability, regardless of the country involved. United Nations bodies, child protection organisations, and women’s rights groups should pay greater attention to monitoring these cases, documenting the facts, and protecting those affected.

The time has come to move beyond expressions of concern and demand concrete action. The Pakistani government must take effective measures to protect girls belonging to minority communities. The Indian government should consistently raise the issue internationally, relying on credible evidence and sustained diplomatic engagement. Global human rights institutions must press for safeguards to ensure that victims are not silenced, investigations are not obstructed, and those responsible are not shielded from accountability.

A country’s commitment to democracy and humanity is ultimately measured by how effectively it protects its most vulnerable citizens. The safety of Hindu and Sikh girls in Pakistan must be judged by the same standard. Every girl has the right to choose her faith, receive an education, live safely with her family, and make decisions about her own life without coercion.

No government, institution, or individual should be allowed to compromise these fundamental rights. Protecting every girl from abduction, coercion, and forced marriage is not merely a matter of religious identity; it is a matter of human dignity, justice, and the rule of law.