A recent alarming incident has brought to light the flaws in Pakistan’s legal system concerning its minority Hindu population. Approximately two months ago, a Hindu woman was abducted by Islamists. Just a few days ago, she managed to escape from her captors in Badin, Sindh and sought refuge at a police station. However, despite her statements in favour of reuniting with her parents, the court, following its customary procedure, sent her to a shelter home.
The victim has been identified as Reeta Meghwar (Rajeeta Kolhi in some reports), while the accused is named Ashiq Ahmadani. According to Reeta’s account, she was coerced into converting to Islam and compelled to marry a Muslim. The abductors issued grave threats against her family should she refuse to comply. It is profoundly distressing to contemplate the suffering she endured over those two months.
Following her return she made a statement in media which was shared by The Rise News, “Reeta Meghwar was abducted 2 months ago but managed to escape from alleged abductor Ashiq Ahmadani. She was forced to convert her religion & marry a man. She was told that if she didn’t follow their demands her parents w’d be killed. She wants to reunite with her parents.”
Badin: Reeta Meghwar was abducted 2 months ago but managed to escape from alleged abductor Ashiq Ahmadani.
She was forced to convert her religion & marry a man. She was told that if she didn’t follow their demands her parents w’d be killed.
She wants to reunite with her parents. pic.twitter.com/ymuSm2OfLu— The Rise News (@Therisenews_) October 15, 2023
Following her appearance in court, she earnestly implored the judges to be reunited with her parents. To her surprise, the court ruled that she should be placed in the custody of Dar-al Aman, a sanctuary for women typically considered a last resort in sensitive custody cases. Despite the girl’s explicit request to be with her parents, the court denied her plea. In essence, the conduct of the judiciary raises serious questions. Poor Reeta wept, repeatedly beseeching to be sent to her parents, even falling to the courtyard floor of the court premises in distress.
Reeta Kohli expressed her desire to go with her parents, but the court, despite her statement, decided to send her to safe house.
She was in tears and protested in court, adamantly stating that she didn’t want to go to safe house but rather wanted to live with her parents. 1/2 https://t.co/lRsMHT3RwJ pic.twitter.com/kXsbnISYMg— The Rise News (@Therisenews_) October 17, 2023
The perpetrator in this case who abducted a woman, illegally converted her to Islam, kept her in captivity and did what not is walking free. There is no law in Pakistan to arrest these men who abduct innocent women and convert them against their will.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT MRM (18th October 2023)
We are disconcerted by the decision of the concerned Court in the case of 25 year old Rajeeta Kolhi, who is reportedly a victim of the crimes of abduction, forced marriage, illegal confinement and rape.
Thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/pt3il0a3Vt
— Minority Rights March (@aqliyatihuqooq) October 18, 2023
A similar incident unfolded in June of this year, involving a 14-year-old girl named Sohana Sharma Kumari who was abducted from her home in the Benazirabad district of Sindh province. She was coerced into converting to Islam and subsequently married off to a Muslim man. Her situation worsened when a Pakistani court, despite her fervent pleas, rejected her request to return to her parents.
Sohana was abducted at gunpoint in front of her mother by her tutor and his associates. Her father, Dilip Kumar Sharma, promptly reported this horrifying event to the authorities. Later, under manipulation, the victim released a video stating that she had embraced Islam and married a man of the same faith. Her parents vehemently contested, asserting that she was a minor. Five days after her abduction, and amidst significant outcry on social media, the authorities located the victim in a house in the district.
Reports indicate that she provided a statement expressing her desire to be reunited with her family. After much struggle, a Pakistani court ultimately granted her request. While it allowed her to return to her parents, no concrete steps were taken to apprehend the perpetrators.
