Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights Defender and Founder & International Advocacy Director of LEAD Ministries, demands immediate government intervention, accountability, and justice for Anishka, while calling for urgent protection of Christian minority girls against abduction, alleged forced religious conversions, and underage marriages in Pakistan.
By Sardar Mushtaq Gill | Human
Rights Defender & Lawyer | Founder & International Advocacy Director,
LEAD Ministries
LARKANA / KARACHI, PAKISTAN — November 9, 2026 — A mother’s desperate appeal for the safe return of her 14-year-old Christian daughter, Anishka, has once again drawn attention to serious human rights concerns surrounding allegations of abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage involving Christian girls in Pakistan.
Shamim Ashraf, the mother of Anishka,
has appealed to Pakistani authorities, law enforcement agencies, church
leadership, the Christian community, and international human rights
organizations to intervene urgently and help secure her daughter’s safe return.
According to the mother’s account, Anishka
went missing from her home on September 18, 2026. FIR No. 443/26 was
registered, and the matter appeared in police inquiry documents dated September
22, 2026. The girl was reportedly transferred to Larkana, raising further
concerns about her whereabouts, personal safety, and the circumstances
surrounding the case.
Their advocate has reportedly stated
that a constitutional petition has also been filed before the relevant High
Court, raising serious concerns about the girl’s safety and well-being in
Karachi.
Another significant legal concern
is that, according to the information provided, Anishka’s statement under
Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has not yet been recorded in the
relevant court proceedings. The girl's actual age, the circumstances of her
disappearance, and the authenticity and circumstances of any reported
conversion or marriage documents require urgent and independent judicial
verification.
A MOTHER’S CRY FOR HER DAUGHTER
In an emotional appeal, Shamim
Ashraf has asked the Christian community, church leaders, social leaders, and
human rights activists not to politicize her daughter's situation but to
support her efforts to bring Anishka home safely.
She stated, “I request the
Christian community not to politicize this matter, but to help me. Stand by me
to bring back my daughter. I am a mother and I just want my daughter to return
safely.”
Her appeal reflects the anguish of
a mother seeking answers, protection, and justice for her missing child. This
is not simply a family dispute. It concerns the safety of a minor, her
fundamental rights, and the responsibility of authorities to ensure that she
can express her wishes freely and without intimidation.
A FAMILY FACING DOUBLE TRAGEDY:
MOTHER SEEKS JUSTICE AMID FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
Shamim Ashraf is also facing severe
economic difficulties while struggling to secure the safe return of her
daughter. According to the mother, her husband recently suffered an accident
that resulted in a fracture to one of his legs, leaving him unable to work and
earn a living. The family is therefore experiencing significant financial
pressure at a time when they are already enduring emotional distress and
uncertainty over their daughter's whereabouts.
Alongside seeking justice and the
safe return of Anishka, the mother is now struggling to manage her family's
basic needs without her husband's income. Her situation highlights the urgent
need for compassion, solidarity, and practical support from the Christian
community, church leadership, human rights organizations, and humanitarian
supporters.
CHRISTIAN GIRLS AND CONTINUING
HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN PAKISTAN
The case of Anishka comes amid
continuing concerns raised by human rights advocates about reports of Christian
and other religious minority girls being abducted, pressured into religious
conversion, and subjected to underage marriages in Pakistan.
Families from vulnerable minority
communities have reported difficulties obtaining effective legal protection and
securing the return of their daughters. Concerns have also been raised about
age verification, the circumstances in which conversion declarations are made,
and whether minors are able to communicate their wishes freely.
Religious freedom is a fundamental
human right. However, freedom of religion must never be used to justify
coercion, exploitation, abduction, or child marriage. A religious conversion
declaration cannot, by itself, establish that an alleged abduction or coercion
did not occur. Authorities must examine the complete circumstances, including
the girl’s age, her safety, the possibility of intimidation, and whether any
decision is genuinely voluntary.
Every allegation must be
investigated fairly, and responsibility must be established through credible
evidence and due process.
SARDAR MUSHTAQ GILL DEMANDS URGENT
ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sardar Mushtaq Gill, Human Rights
Defender and Lawyer, Founder and International Advocacy Director of LEAD
Ministries, has called for immediate and impartial intervention by Pakistani
authorities.
He emphasizes that the protection
of children, particularly girls from religious minority communities, must be
treated as a fundamental responsibility of the state. He calls upon the
authorities to immediately establish Anishka’s whereabouts and ensure her
physical safety, independently verify her age through reliable birth and
educational records, and ensure that her statement is recorded before the
competent judicial authority in a safe, private, and pressure-free environment.
He further urges authorities to
investigate the alleged abduction and all circumstances surrounding the
reported religious conversion and possible marriage, examine the relevant FIR,
police records, court proceedings, and any religious or marriage documentation,
and provide legal protection and assistance to her mother and family. Anyone
found responsible for criminal wrongdoing must be held accountable in
accordance with the law.
AN APPEAL TO MOTHERS: EDUCATE AND
EMPOWER YOUR DAUGHTERS
Sardar Mushtaq Gill has also
appealed to Christian mothers and families to educate and prepare their
daughters to recognize deception, manipulation, exploitation, and situations
that could threaten their safety.
Mothers must teach their daughters
about personal safety, their legal rights, the importance of seeking help from
trusted people, and the need to report threats, intimidation, or suspicious
approaches. Girls should be encouraged to speak openly with their parents and
trusted guardians whenever they feel unsafe. Education, awareness, confidence,
and access to reliable support systems are essential tools for protecting
children.
Gill stresses that responsibility
for preventing exploitation lies with society and the authorities as well as
families. Girls must never be blamed for the actions of those who may exploit
or deceive them.
“Our daughters are not objects to
be taken, manipulated, or forced into decisions about their lives. Every girl
deserves protection, dignity, education, freedom, and a childhood free from
fear. Mothers must educate and empower their daughters, and the authorities
must ensure that those who violate children's rights face the law.”
He further emphasizes that parents,
churches, educational institutions, and community leaders must work together to
create safe environments where girls can grow up with confidence, knowledge,
and dignity.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST NOT
REMAIN SILENT
LEAD Ministries appeals to
international human rights organizations, Christian churches, religious freedom
institutions, child protection agencies, international NGOs, and diplomatic
missions to pay attention to the case of Anishka.
The organization urges
international stakeholders to encourage Pakistani authorities to ensure an
impartial investigation, protect the minor from threats, pressure, and
intimidation, guarantee access to independent legal assistance, establish her
age, and examine the circumstances of any alleged conversion or marriage. Her
fundamental rights must be respected, and her wishes must be heard in a safe
environment without external influence.
The international community should
also continue monitoring broader concerns involving the rights of religious
minorities, particularly vulnerable Christian girls in Pakistan. The protection
of children must transcend religious, political, and social divisions.
LEAD MINISTRIES: HUMAN RIGHTS
ADVOCACY, DOCUMENTATION AND THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
LEAD Ministries is dedicated to
documenting and reporting Christian persecution in Pakistan, particularly
violence against Christians, religious discrimination, threats and
intimidation, violations of religious freedom, alleged forced religious
conversions and marriages of Christian girls, and the misuse of blasphemy laws
against religious minorities. Through human rights documentation, advocacy, and
international awareness, the organization seeks justice, equality, religious
freedom, and protection for vulnerable Christian communities.
However, LEAD Ministries currently
does not provide direct financial assistance to victims or persecuted families
because it lacks funding partners and dedicated financial resources. Therefore,
we appeal to international Christian organizations, churches, charitable
foundations, philanthropists, humanitarian donors, and compassionate
individuals who are willing and able to support this mission. We invite them to
establish partnerships with LEAD Ministries so that, alongside documenting
persecution, we can also help provide practical support, legal assistance,
emergency relief, and other essential assistance to victims and their families.
Our mission is to give a voice to the persecuted, defend religious freedom, and expose human rights violations. Meaningful partnerships and the generosity of committed supporters are needed to turn human rights advocacy into practical assistance and hope for vulnerable families.
JUSTICE FOR ANISHKA, DIGNITY FOR
HER MOTHER
The case of 14-year-old Anishka is
a reminder that the rights of children must never be sacrificed to social
pressure, religious influence, or institutional indifference. A mother is
asking for help. A family is seeking answers. A minor's safety and fundamental
rights require immediate attention.
The authorities must establish the
facts, protect the child, investigate every allegation, and ensure that justice
is delivered according to law. The Christian community must stand beside the
mother with compassion, solidarity, and practical support rather than allowing
divisions or political interests to overshadow the child's welfare.
ANISHKA’S SAFETY MUST COME FIRST.
HER MOTHER'S VOICE MUST BE HEARD. HER RIGHTS MUST BE PROTECTED. JUSTICE MUST
PREVAIL.
A CALL FOR JUSTICE, HUMAN DIGNITY,
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND THE PROTECTION OF EVERY CHILD.
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