Protest Erupts Over Mishandling of Missing Girl Case by Gilgit Police

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: Civil society activists, child rights organizations, the human rights commission, the legal fraternity, journalists, and political party representatives staged a protest in Islamabad on Sunday against the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl, a resident of the Sultanabad area of GB, and the poor handling of the case by Gilgit police. They demanded immediate recovery of the missing girl.

According to the details, the young girl went missing approximately two months ago from Sultanabad village in Gilgit, but despite her father’s repeated visits to the police station, she could not be recovered. 

The missing girl’s father has said that his 13-year-old daughter was ‘abducted and married off’ without his consent, in violation of his religious, social, and legal norms. He said that he kept visiting the police station, but it took longer than expected to register the FIR. The protestors demanded the need for a transparent investigation to ensure that such cases are prevented in the future.

They were of the view that it is a case of child abduction, internal child trafficking, early forced marriage, and child sexual abuse, and it is the inability of Gilgit-Baltistan police to recover the girl even after 54 days of her disappearance. 

The protesting activists, carrying banners that inscribed slogans against the GB police and in their favor of the missing child, also questioned the role of the KP Child Protection & Welfare Commission (KPCPWC) in this situation as the unlawful act of child marriage was solemnized in Mansehra district of the KP province.

Later, the suspect sought transit bail at Peshawar High Court (PHC), which means the KPCPWC must look into the matter, take action, and ensure the child’s safety.It’s important to note that the suspect has also requested transit bail at Peshawar High Court (PHC), which mandates the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Child Rights Commission to investigate, respond to, and ensure the rescue of the child.

A video posted on social media by the alleged abductor of the 13-year-old girl reveals that she is married to a 17-year-old boy who has still not obtained the legal age of marriage as set in the Child Marriage Restraint Amendment Act of 1929. 

In the video, the girl is noticed forging the age of the child, contrary to what her original NADRA-issued birth registration certificate reveals. 

The civil society organizations demand the swift recovery of both children, as behind these unlawful acts, both of them are vulnerable to even more extreme forms of violence and exploitation. Although a First Information Report (FIR) of the incident was registered on January 20, 2024, with Danyore police station, Gilgit, the police have failed to recover and produce the child in a court of law.

The protesters said that Sakhi Ahmad Jan, the complainant, has leveled serious allegations against some police officials, which need to be investigated properly to ensure the accountability of law enforcement agencies in the region.

Protestors also stated that if relevant departments do not intervene to resolve the situation, the issue could lead to unrest among the masses. 

The protesters have assured them to continue their struggle until justice is dispensed to the victim’s family.The key demands made by the speakers at the press club are:

• Recover the child immediately and present her in front of a court of law. 
• Use authentic medical and legal methods to determine the age of the child.
• Investigate the conduct of the Nikah Reader and Registrar.
• Investigate the doctor to ascertain how she was able to determine the child’s age and issue a certificate. 
• Transparent investigation of the serious allegations leveled by the child’s parents against certain police officials to ensure accountability
• Review the legal and administrative arrangements in place to identify preventative measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future. 
• Investigate why the police were unable to take any credible action despite registering the FIR.
• A judicial inquiry should be initiated by the high court peshawar against the magistrate who has taken the statement of the victim under Section 164 CrPc.