Kidnapped Christian Girl in Pakistan Abducted Again After Brief Escape
In a harrowing turn of events, 15-year-old Muskan Salman, a Christian girl who had previously escaped from her kidnapper, has been abducted again by the same suspect. The incident occurred on February 18 in Tando Ghulam Ali, Badin District, Sindh Province, while Muskan’s family was attending a relative’s funeral.
______________
The Abduction: A Family’s Nightmare
Muskan Salman was first kidnapped on March 11, 2024, by Arsalan Ali, a Muslim man who forcibly converted her to Islam and coerced her into a false marriage. After escaping on December 15, 2024, Muskan was reunited with her family and placed in a safe house in Karachi to protect her from further harm.
However, tragedy struck again when Muskan’s family returned to their hometown for a relative’s funeral. While the family was away, Arsalan Ali and an unidentified accomplice broke into their home at gunpoint and abducted Muskan. Her 10-year-old cousin, who witnessed the abduction, recounted the terrifying ordeal to the family.
“When we returned home, we saw my niece crying in the courtyard, and Muskan was missing,” said Salman Masih, Muskan’s father. “The child told us that two men forced their way into the house and took Muskan with them.”
______________
Police Inaction and Family’s Desperation
Despite immediately reporting the abduction to the police, Salman Masih said officers refused to register a formal complaint. “It’s been over 10 days since Muskan was taken, but the police are not taking any action,” he said. “Ali is also missing, and we have no information about their whereabouts.”
The family’s efforts to locate Muskan have so far been unsuccessful. Masih expressed regret for returning to their hometown, believing they could attend the funeral discreetly without alerting Ali. “I made a grave mistake,” he said. “I thought we could return to Karachi without Ali knowing, but I was wrong.”
Arsalan Ali had been threatening the family, demanding that Muskan be returned to him as his “legally-wedded wife.” The family now fears for Muskan’s safety, especially given the police’s apparent indifference to their plight.
______________
Legal Battles and Forced Conversions
Muskan’s case highlights the pervasive issue of forced conversions and marriages of underage Christian girls in Pakistan. After her initial abduction, Muskan was coerced into declaring that she was 19 years old and had willingly converted to Islam and married Ali. However, her family and legal representatives have consistently refuted these claims.
Luke Victor, a Christian attorney assisting the family, stated that Muskan had denied both her conversion to Islam and her alleged marriage to Ali in a written statement to the court on December 16. The court had allowed her to remain with her parents while police investigated the case under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014, which sets the legal marriage age at 18.
______________
A Call for Justice and Protection
Salman Masih has appealed to the provincial government and senior police officials to intervene and ensure Muskan’s safe return. “We are very concerned for our daughter’s safety,” he said. “The police’s indifference is exacerbating our fears that we may not see her again.”
The case has drawn attention to the systemic failures that leave minority communities, particularly Christian girls, vulnerable to abduction, forced conversions, and exploitation. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations are calling for urgent action to address these issues and ensure justice for Muskan and her family.
______________
A Broader Crisis
Muskan’s ordeal is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of violence and exploitation targeting religious minorities in Pakistan. Her case underscores the urgent need for legal reforms, stronger law enforcement, and greater protection for vulnerable communities.
As the investigation continues, Muskan’s family and supporters remain hopeful that she will be rescued and that those responsible for her abduction will be held accountable. Her story is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by minority communities in Pakistan and the need for systemic change to protect their rights and dignity.
