Senator Danesh Kumar Challenges Powerful Figures Over Alleged Forced Conversions of Hindu Minor Girls; LEAD Ministries Questions State Inaction Over Years of Allegations Against Mian Mitho

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights Defender, Lawyer, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, Demands Justice for Christian and Hindu Children, Immediate Recovery of 14-Year-Old Bindiya Kumari and Accountability for Those Implicated in Alleged Forced Conversions and Child Marriages

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights Defender, Lawyer, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, has strongly welcomed the intervention of Pakistani Senator Danesh Kumar, who has raised serious concerns before a Senate committee regarding the alleged abduction, forced religious conversion and underage marriages of minority girls in Pakistan.

The senator’s intervention has once again brought national attention to the alarming vulnerability of Hindu and Christian girls, particularly minors from economically disadvantaged families, who reportedly face abduction, coercion, forced religious conversion and marriage without their free and informed consent.

Gill said that the senator’s intervention is particularly significant because it challenges not only the alleged perpetrators but also the institutional failures that allow such cases to continue without meaningful accountability.

He stressed that the protection of minority girls cannot remain limited to parliamentary discussions and political statements. The government must demonstrate its commitment through concrete action, independent investigations, the recovery of missing children and prosecution of anyone found responsible.

Senator Danesh Kumar Challenges Powerful Religious Figures and Questions State Authority

During the Senate committee meeting, Senator Danesh Kumar reportedly accused influential religious personality Mian Mitho of exercising extraordinary influence in the region and facilitating the alleged forced conversion of underage minority girls.

Describing the situation as a “state within a state,” the senator questioned why law enforcement authorities appeared reluctant or unable to take effective action against powerful individuals accused of involvement in these cases.

His intervention has raised fundamental questions about the independence of law enforcement institutions and whether influential religious personalities and local power brokers can operate beyond the effective reach of the law.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill, speaking in his capacity as a Human Rights Defender and Lawyer, said that the senator’s concerns deserve serious consideration by the federal government, the Sindh government and all relevant law enforcement authorities.

“No individual should be above the law. Religious status, political connections, wealth or local influence must never become protection against investigation or prosecution. When allegations involve the safety and freedom of children, the state has an obligation to act without fear or favour,” Gill stated.

Mian Mitho: Years of Allegations and the State’s Reluctance to Take Decisive Action

One of the most disturbing aspects of the continuing controversy surrounding forced religious conversions and underage marriages involving Hindu girls in Sindh is the repeated emergence of the name of Mian Mitho over an extended period.

Mian Mitho, an influential religious personality, has been associated in public allegations and minority-rights advocacy discussions with cases involving Hindu girls who were reportedly abducted, converted to Islam and subsequently married under circumstances their families and advocates have described as coercive.

These concerns are not new. His name has surfaced repeatedly over the years, raising serious questions about his alleged influence and the circumstances surrounding cases involving vulnerable Hindu girls.

Despite the persistence of these allegations and repeated demands for accountability, there remains widespread concern among minority communities that the state has failed to demonstrate sufficiently decisive and transparent action.

The central question is unavoidable:

Why does the Pakistani state appear reluctant to take effective action when serious allegations involving influential religious personalities and the exploitation of minority children are raised?

Sardar Mushtaq Gill said that the continued emergence of Mian Mitho’s name in such allegations demands an independent, impartial and credible investigation.

He emphasised that the passage of time must not become an excuse for institutional silence, administrative inaction or the avoidance of accountability.

“If allegations involving the same influential personality continue to surface over many years, the authorities cannot simply look the other way. The state has a responsibility to investigate, establish the facts and ensure accountability. No individual should be considered untouchable because of religious status, political influence or personal connections,” Gill stated.

He further questioned why minority families continue to struggle for justice while individuals accused of facilitating or participating in alleged forced conversions and child marriages are perceived to enjoy considerable influence over local institutions.

Gill stressed that the issue is not about targeting Islam or interfering with genuine religious freedom. It is about protecting children from abduction, coercion, exploitation and unlawful marriage, regardless of the religious identity or social position of those accused.

The state’s continued failure to address these allegations effectively risks strengthening a culture of impunity. When influential individuals are not subjected to the same legal scrutiny as ordinary citizens, public confidence in the justice system is seriously undermined.

LEAD Ministries therefore calls upon the Government of Sindh, the Inspector General of Sindh Police, relevant investigative authorities and the federal government to ensure an independent investigation into allegations involving Mian Mitho, including any evidence of facilitation, involvement or obstruction in cases concerning Hindu minor girls.

Anyone against whom sufficient evidence is established must be prosecuted in accordance with Pakistani law.

“The question is no longer whether these allegations deserve attention. The question is why, despite years of public concern, the state has not demonstrated sufficiently decisive and transparent action. Pakistan cannot claim to protect religious minorities while allowing serious allegations involving powerful individuals to remain unresolved. Justice must not depend on the identity, influence or religious standing of the accused. The law must be stronger than the powerful,” Gill said.

“If a 14-Year-Old Girl Cannot Marry or Vote, How Can She Independently Consent to Religious Conversion?”

One of the most significant questions raised by Senator Danesh Kumar concerned the legal capacity of underage girls and the apparent contradictions surrounding their ability to enter marriages and undertake religious conversions.

Questioning police officials, the senator challenged the circumstances under which a 14-year-old girl could supposedly make such life-changing decisions while still being legally recognised as a child.

He also raised the case of 14-year-old Bindiya Kumari, demanding her recovery and warning police authorities that the Inspector General of Sindh could be summoned if effective action was not taken.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill said that the case of Bindiya Kumari must not be allowed to disappear into administrative delays, political interference or religious pressure.

“An underage girl is a child who deserves protection, not exploitation. No child should be subjected to intimidation, manipulation, unlawful confinement or marriage under the pressure of powerful individuals. Her safety, dignity, freedom and independently expressed wishes must be respected,” Gill stated.

He called upon Sindh Police to establish the whereabouts of the girl, ensure her safe recovery and investigate all allegations surrounding her disappearance and reported conversion.

He further stressed that any recovered minor must be interviewed in a safe and neutral environment, away from alleged perpetrators or individuals who may exert pressure upon her. Independent legal assistance and appropriate child-protection safeguards must be provided.

LEAD Ministries: Forced Conversion of Minority Girls Is a Grave Human-Rights Concern

Sardar Mushtaq Gill expressed serious concern over recurring allegations involving the abduction, forced conversion and marriage of Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan.

He emphasised that religious freedom is a fundamental human right and that conversion must be a genuinely voluntary decision, free from threats, deception, coercion, intimidation and exploitation.

The vulnerability of minority girls is particularly concerning where families have limited financial resources, weak political representation and little access to effective legal protection.

When families report the disappearance of their daughters, they should receive immediate police assistance, legal protection and access to justice. Instead, allegations of institutional negligence, intimidation and the influence of powerful individuals create further fear among already vulnerable communities.

Gill stressed that the state must not allow religious conversion to become a mechanism for legitimising the exploitation of children.

“Religion must never become a shield for criminal conduct. No one can justify the abduction, coercion or exploitation of a child by presenting it as a religious matter. Genuine faith cannot be established through force, threats or the destruction of a child's freedom,” he said.

He added that the freedom to practise or change one's religion must never be used to conceal allegations of child abduction, unlawful confinement or forced marriage.

Powerful Pirs, Waderas and Religious Personalities Must Be Held Accountable

A particularly troubling concern raised by the senator relates to the alleged influence of powerful religious personalities and local influential figures over law enforcement and administrative institutions.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill said that Pakistan's justice system must demonstrate that the law applies equally to everyone, including powerful Pirs, Waderas, religious leaders, political personalities and individuals with considerable local influence.

He expressed concern that allegations involving influential people can discourage minority families from pursuing justice and create an environment in which vulnerable girls remain exposed to exploitation.

Gill called for independent investigations into allegations against Mian Mitho and any other influential individuals implicated in cases involving minority girls.

He demanded that anyone found involved in abduction, coercion, unlawful confinement, forced marriage or the facilitation of crimes against minors be prosecuted according to law.

He emphasised that accountability must extend beyond principal perpetrators to include anyone who assists, facilitates, conceals or obstructs investigations into such offences.

“A religious title does not provide immunity from the law. A powerful Pir or Wadera cannot claim authority over the lives, bodies and religious identities of vulnerable girls. If anyone is found involved in these crimes, they must face the full force of the law,” Gill declared.

Sindh Police Must Demonstrate Independence and Accountability

LEAD Ministries also expressed concern over questions raised during the Senate committee meeting regarding the response of Sindh Police.

Senator Danesh Kumar reportedly challenged police officials over their handling of the matter and questioned whether legal procedures were being used to delay meaningful action.

Sardar Mushtaq Gill said that the responsibility of police authorities is to protect citizens without discrimination, irrespective of their religion, social status or political influence.

He called upon the Inspector General of Sindh Police and the provincial government to ensure:

1. Immediate and effective investigation into the alleged abduction of Bindiya Kumari.
2. Her safe recovery and protection from intimidation, coercion or retaliation.
3. Independent investigation of allegations against all individuals suspected of involvement, including influential religious personalities.
4. An inquiry into any possible negligence, misconduct or obstruction by police officials.
5. Legal action against anyone found responsible for facilitating forced conversion, unlawful confinement or child marriage.
6. Protection and legal assistance for families of missing or allegedly abducted minority girls.
7. Transparent investigation of previous complaints involving similar allegations.

Gill further stressed that police officers must not allow political, religious or feudal pressure to influence their professional responsibilities.

Christian and Hindu Communities Deserve Equal Protection Under Pakistan's Constitution

Sardar Mushtaq Gill emphasised that the protection of Christian and Hindu girls is not merely a minority-community demand but a constitutional and human-rights obligation of the Pakistani state.

Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to constitutional limitations. Article 25 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law.

Pakistan is also a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires the protection of children against abuse, exploitation and harmful practices.

The state therefore has an obligation to protect every child, regardless of religious identity, from abduction, exploitation, violence and coercion.

Gill said that religious conversion and marriage involving minors must be examined carefully, with particular attention to the child's age, circumstances, free consent and applicable legal protections.

He warned that a conversion certificate or marriage document cannot automatically eliminate the need to investigate allegations of abduction, coercion or unlawful conduct.

“Christian and Hindu children are citizens of Pakistan. Their lives, rights and dignity are equally valuable. They must not be treated as second-class citizens or abandoned when powerful individuals are accused of violating their fundamental rights,” Gill said.

International Community Must Pay Attention to the Persecution and Vulnerability of Religious Minorities

Sardar Mushtaq Gill urged international human-rights organisations, Christian advocacy networks, minority-rights institutions, United Nations mechanisms, diplomatic missions and international faith communities to pay sustained attention to allegations of forced conversions and child marriages in Pakistan.

He said that the issue requires more than occasional expressions of concern. It demands consistent international engagement, monitoring, accountability and support for victims and their families.

LEAD Ministries called upon international organisations to encourage the Pakistani government to strengthen child-protection mechanisms, ensure independent investigations and provide effective remedies to victims.

Gill also urged international Christian organisations and churches not to remain silent when Christian girls and families face allegations of abduction, coercion and religious persecution.

He stressed that solidarity must extend equally to Hindu communities, whose girls also face serious allegations of exploitation and forced conversion.

"The protection of religious minorities is not a favour that governments grant. It is a responsibility arising from human dignity, constitutional guarantees and international human-rights obligations. The suffering of Christian and Hindu families must not be ignored simply because they belong to vulnerable communities," he said.

Beyond Political Statements: Pakistan Needs Justice and Institutional Reform

Gill said that parliamentary speeches and public statements are important, but they must be followed by concrete action.

The case of Bindiya Kumari should become an opportunity for Pakistani authorities to demonstrate their commitment to protecting minority children and ensuring accountability.

He called for stronger safeguards against child abduction, forced marriage and coercive religious conversion, as well as improved access to legal assistance and safe accommodation for vulnerable girls.

He further urged the government to ensure that police officers respond promptly to complaints from minority families and that investigations are not influenced by political, religious or feudal pressure.

The authorities must also address the wider conditions that make minority girls vulnerable, including poverty, discrimination, social marginalisation and unequal access to justice.

The government must establish effective mechanisms through which families can report missing children, obtain immediate protection and pursue legal remedies without intimidation.

Gill stressed that accountability must not be selective or limited to individual cases that attract temporary media attention. Every credible complaint deserves professional investigation, and every child deserves equal protection.

“No Child Should Be Forced to Choose Between Her Faith, Her Family and Her Freedom”

Concluding his statement, Sardar Mushtaq Gill commended Senator Danesh Kumar for raising these concerns in Pakistan’s Senate and challenging the apparent impunity enjoyed by influential individuals accused of exploiting religious minorities.

He said that the real measure of the government's commitment would be the safe recovery of Bindiya Kumari, a transparent investigation and prosecution of anyone found responsible.

Gill reiterated that LEAD Ministries would continue to advocate for the rights, dignity and protection of Christian and Hindu communities and call for accountability wherever religious freedom and children's rights are violated.

He urged the Pakistani government to demonstrate that the protection of minority children is a genuine national priority rather than merely a subject of political statements.

“No child should be forced to choose between her faith, her family and her freedom. No girl should be abducted, coerced into changing her religion or forced into marriage. No powerful individual should be allowed to operate above the law. Pakistan must protect its Christian and Hindu daughters with the same commitment and seriousness with which it protects every other child,” Sardar Mushtaq Gill stated.

He added: “Years of allegations, repeated appeals and the continuing vulnerability of minority girls demand answers. The state cannot continue to remain silent when families seek justice and influential individuals are named in serious allegations. The government must demonstrate its independence, courage and commitment to the rule of law.”

LEAD Ministries demands justice, not political promises; accountability, not religious intimidation; and protection, not persecution.

The daughters of Pakistan deserve childhood, education, dignity, freedom of religion and the right to live without fear. Their protection is not a favour from the state. It is a fundamental obligation.