LAHORE – Thirteen-year-old Christian girl Sana, daughter of Shahid Jaan has been forced to convert to Islam and then married to one 21-year-old Waheed Akhtar, son of Muhammad Bashir in New Miana Pura West area of Sialkot.The incident occurred on November 09 (last Monday). An FIR was registered in Hajipura police station on the same day and an investigation is underway. Investigation officer ASI Muhammad Ashraf told The Nation on Saturday that they conducted some raids to recover the girl. “The lawyer of the accused has contacted us on phone and sent a written request as well. He has told us that they have got pre-arrest bails from the court and would join the investigation on Monday. The girl is 15 years old. She first converted to Islam and then married Waheed,” Ashraf said and added that police was very cooperative and immediately registered FIR on the complaint of Sana’s father. The Nation has copies of FIR and the Nikahnama (Marriage contract). Hafiz Muhammad Khalid was the Nikahkhawan.
Sana is a student of class V and studying in the Government Primary Girls School also in Mianapura area. Her sister Hina is also studying in the same class. They are three sisters and three brothers.
Shahid Jaan said he was a labourer and came to know of the incident when he came home in the evening. “I was shocked to hear the news. My legs were trembling when I heard what had happened. Hina was accompanying Sana on her way back from school. Waheed Akhtar forcibly took her away. Hina came back to home and informed the family. We went to Waheed Akhtar’s house, which is also in the vicinity. Waheed and his father are butchers by profession. They kept saying that Waheed will be back soon but when he did not turn up I went to police station and registered my complaint,” he said.
On a query about Sana’s age Shahid said she was not an adult. “She was born on April 17, 2002, which means that she cannot get married of her own free will. The age can be confirmed from NADRA as well as school record. We hope we will get justice as this is a barbaric act and should be condemned by everyone. I trust my daughter and believe that she was forced to convert,” he said.
The girl’s grandfather William John was very disturbed. “This incident has the whole house disturbed. Think of how the other children are coping with this situation. It is bad that I am alive to witness this day. It should not have happened,” he said.
Many such incidents have been reported in the past. The government needs to develop a mechanism to stop such incidents in future.