Maira Shahbaz: Christian teen abducted, still missing after 24 days

FAISALABAD: Maira Shahbaz, a 14-year-old Christian teen girl was abducted on April 26, and she remains missing to date.

Maira was abducted by four men from Madina Town of Faisalabad, Punjab. Her kidnapping was captured on a CCTV camera.

Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) reports Maira’s mother Nighat Shahbaz now fears the safety of her young daughter.

Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) is an interdenominational organization working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan.

CLAAS reports her mother has registered a case at a local police station against a Muslim man with a name Naqash. The mother believes Naqash has kidnapped her 14-year-old daughter.

Maira Shahbaz’s mother has told the police, her daughter went to work on April 28 and hasn’t returned since then.

Her mother was informed by two Christian men Naeem and Pervez, who witnessed the kidnapping, that her daughter was kidnapped by Naqash, Muhammad Younas and their other friends.

The witnesses said Maira Shahbaz was forced into a car and taken away. Naeem and Pervez tried to save the teen girl but could not because the kidnappers were armed. The kidnappers threatened to shoot them.

The witnesses however, are ready to testify against Naqash and Younas.

Nighat fears safety of her daughter, Maira Shahbaz

Nighat Shabaz fears the safety of her daughter and has asked the police to find her daughter as soon as possible.

Nighat fears the abductors may sell her daughter or even force her into prostitution, as it is a normal scenario when Christian and Hindu girls are kidnapped. In such cases, the girls are also forced to convert to Islam.

Forced Conversion

Nasir Saeed Director of CLAAS-UK have said the forced conversion of Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan are on a rise. he also said this issue has been brought into the Government’s knowledge but the government has failed to make any law to stop it.

Nasir Saeed also said even when the culprits are caught, the law have failed to punish the criminals involved in the forced conversion.