Lahore High Court returns 13-year-old Christian girl to family after her abduction for marriage
The court ordered the release of Aneeqa. Abducted in late December and subjected to a fake conversion, she was recognised as a child based on official records. Her abductor’s arguments were rejected and he was ordered arrested. According to The Edge Foundation, “Such rulings restore faith in the justice system and give hope to countless families facing similar threats.”
Islamabad (AsiaNews) – Last Monday, the Lahore High Court ordered the release of Aneeqa, a 13-year-old Christian girl abducted late last month, and her return to the custody of her parents. This is a landmark ruling that strengthens the protection of children and minority rights.
The court ordered the immediate arrest and judicial custody of the defendant, rejecting claims that the girl was an adult, reiterating that the law does not recognise a minor's consent to marriage or religious conversion.
Aneeqa was reportedly abducted on 29 December 2025. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Sadar Sheikhupura police station under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which concerns abduction for marriage.
During the trial, the accused, identified as Aslam, allegedly falsified the girl's age, claiming she had converted to Islam to enter into marriage. However, official records produced by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), submitted to the court, confirmed that Aneeqa is a minor.
Based on these documents, the Lahore High Court rejected the defence's arguments and ordered the defendant be placed under judicial custody.
Judge Tariq Saleem Sheikh cited the Child Marriage Restraint Act and settled jurisprudence, holding that a minor is legally incapable of consenting to a union or changing their religion. He also stressed the state's duty to protect children, particularly those from vulnerable communities.
The Court also noted that coercion and manipulation cannot be legitimised under the guise of consent.
The Edge Foundation initiated legal action in this case with a constitutional petition seeking the minor's recovery and the protection of her fundamental rights.
Following the petition, the Honourable Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh ordered the child's immediate recovery and instructed police authorities to ensure her safe return to her parents.
Azhar S. Malik, co-chair of the foundation, welcomed the ruling as a significant step towards justice.
“We are extremely pleased with today’s judgment. This is a rare but powerful victory for a vulnerable minority child and a clear message that the law does not permit child marriage or coercion in the name of religion,” he said. “Such rulings restore faith in the justice system and give hope to countless families facing similar threats.”
Mr Malik noted that court cases involving underage girls and young women, particularly those from minority religious communities, often encounter delays, intimidation, and procedural manipulation. In his view, swift and decisive judicial intervention is essential to prevent irreparable harm and uphold the rule of law.
Aneeqa's parents expressed profound relief at the court's decision, saying that they were grateful that their daughter had been safely returned to them and that the judiciary had recognised her status as a child in need of protection.
The case will now proceed before the Sheikhupura District and Sessions Court, where the FIR was originally filed.
In accordance with due process, Aneeqa's statement will be recorded by the police and subsequently brought before a magistrate.
The Edge Foundation's legal team is committed to providing continued legal assistance to the family throughout the trial.
Reiterating its call for strict enforcement of child protection laws, the advocacy organisation has urged authorities to ensure that perpetrators of child abductions, forced marriages, and religious coercion are prosecuted without delay, emphasising that the protection of children’s rights must remain a paramount legal and moral priority.
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05/02/2020 18:53
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