Pakistan’s Vulnerable Girls

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: A mother’s anguish is immeasurable when her child’s future is endangered. Demonstrating remarkable maternal courage, Azizan took a stand on the streets of Badin to protest against the forced marriage of her young daughter.

With unwavering determination outside the Badin press club, Azizan, a resident of the Gharibabad area, courageously recounted the traumatic ordeal her family had endured.

She detailed how a man named Nadeem, son of Saleem Malah, accompanied by two accomplices, Hameed Malah and Faheem Abbasi, committed a despicable act by kidnapping her 10-year-old daughter, Muskan, and compelling her into marriage.

Through tears and a quivering voice, Azizan implored the media and authorities for justice. She demanded that senior police officers promptly acknowledge her daughter’s abduction and file a case against the perpetrators.

Azizan’s protest serves as a poignant reminder of the widespread problem of forced marriages and the susceptibility of young girls in certain communities. It exposes the grim reality endured by many families, where childhood innocence is stolen, and the hope for a bright future is replaced by despair and uncertainty.

For too long, the issue of early and forced marriages in Pakistan, particularly among minority communities, has been overlooked.

Recently, United Nations human rights experts drew attention to the plight of women and girls from Hindu and Christian backgrounds, who are especially vulnerable to forced conversions, kidnappings, and other forms of abuse.

During a statement at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, experts expressed their concerns, asserting that crimes against young women and girls from religious minority groups cannot be tolerated any longer.

They highlighted instances where girls are coerced into marriages and conversions, often with the assistance of authorities who misinterpret religious laws to justify these acts.

There are occasions when even the courts fail to safeguard these vulnerable girls, opting to keep them with their abductors instead of reuniting them with their families. This is unacceptable, as emphasized by the international human rights body.

According to international law, the consent of a girl child under 18 is imperative for any marriage. However, in Pakistan, the legal age of marriage for girls is alarmingly low, at just 16 years old. This leaves them susceptible to exploitation and abuse.

The UN experts rightfully emphasize that religious or cultural rationales cannot excuse forced marriages. Every woman has the right to choose her spouse and enter into marriage freely, without coercion or fear.

The call to action is clear: Pakistan must enforce existing legal safeguards to protect its girls from all forms of abuse, including early and forced marriages, abduction, and trafficking.

Perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions, irrespective of their religious or cultural background.

Furthermore, it is crucial that the law treats women and girls from all religious communities equally, without discrimination. They deserve the same rights and protections as anyone else.

It is time for Pakistan to prioritize the safety and well-being of its girls. By enforcing laws against child abuse and forced marriages and providing support to victims, Pakistan can take significant steps towards ensuring justice for all its citizens, regardless of their gender and religious affiliation.