Dhaka, 28 December 2025 – The persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan is a persistent and deeply troubling issue. Though Hindus constitute barely 1.6 per cent of the nation’s population, reports of abductions, forced conversions to Islam, and marriages to Muslim men have repeatedly surfaced, particularly in the Sindh province. Similar incidents affect Christian and Sikh girls, highlighting a broader pattern of religiously motivated coercion.
Human rights organisations in Pakistan have documented hundreds of cases annually involving minority girls subjected to abduction and forced religious conversion. According to the National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP), the number of abducted Christian girls has been steadily increasing. Media reports have also highlighted attempts to coerce girls from the Kalash community into Islam. Victims are frequently from impoverished, lower-caste families, and in some cases, girls as young as 12 years old are targeted.
A recent case in Kunri, Mirpurkhas District, involved the abduction of a Hindu minor, Sunita, who was forcibly converted to Islam and married to a significantly older Muslim man. Following police intervention and judicial proceedings, she was returned safely to her family. Local Hindu leader Chander Kohli remarked, “This is far from an isolated incident. Girls from poor families are targeted because their families often lack the resources to fight legal battles.”
In another recent example, Rita, a Hindu teenager, was forcibly married to a 65-year-old cleric but was later restored to her family through court action. Rita explicitly stated her unwillingness to abandon her ancestral faith.
The following table summarises key incidents over nearly two decades:
| Date | Age | Name | Location | Community/Religion | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 | Unknown | North-West Frontier Province | Sikh | Abducted by Afridi tribal members; abductors claimed she converted to Islam |
| 4 Jan 2005 | 16, 18 | Hemi, Marvi | Umerkot, Kunri village | Hindu | Abduction |
| 3 Mar 2005 | 14 | Raji | Mirpurkhas, Aslam Town | Hindu | Abduction |
| 22 Dec 2005 | 13 | Mashu | Mirpurkhas, Dhaluri village | Hindu | Abduction |
| 23 Jul 2006 | 15 | Pooja | Karachi, Lyari | Hindu | Abduction; court ordered release, but re-abducted, still missing |
| 2 Aug 2006 | 16 | Komal | Karachi, Hawks Bay | Hindu | Abduction |
| 31 Dec 2006 | 17 | Deepa | Sindh, Tharparkar | Hindu | Abduction |
| May 2007 | Unknown | Unknown | North-West Frontier Province, Charsaddar | Christian | Threatened with bomb attack if refused conversion; police inaction |
| Jun 2009 | Unknown | Unknown | Pakistan | Christian | Rape and murder for refusing conversion (ICC report) |
| 23 Sep 2014 | Unknown | Jyoti Kumari | Sindh, Larkana | Hindu | Abduction |
| 14–19 May 2014 | 57 | Unknown | Unknown | Hindu | Multiple families forcibly converted for employment and livelihood pressures |
| 2017 | Unknown | Unknown | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Hangu | Sikh | Forced conversion by government official; religious persecution |
| 29 Apr 2017 | 17 | Priya Kaur | Buner District | Sikh | Abduction |
| Jun 2017 | 16 | Rabita Meghwar | Sindh | Hindu | Abduction |
| 2019 | Unknown | Reena & Ravina | Pakistan | Hindu | Attempted forced conversion; India’s Ministry of External Affairs sought report |
| Jan 2019 | 16 | Anusha Kumari | Pakistan | Hindu | Abduction; Indian High Commission notified, no action taken |
| 2019 | Unknown | Unknown | Punjab | Sikh | Abduction and forced conversion; could not return home despite governor’s assurances |
| 2020 | 15 | Mehak Kumari | Pakistan | Hindu | Abduction, forced conversion, coerced marriage; later rescued by police, sent to women’s protection centre |
| 2020 | Unknown | Unknown | Pakistan | Christian | 14-year-old girl abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, married; court validated marriage |
Despite repeated calls from human rights organisations, many victims still lack adequate legal support. Activists warn that such abuses are increasing in Sindh, southern Punjab, and north-western border regions.
Human rights defenders stress the urgent need for international attention and stronger legal frameworks to safeguard the rights, education, and safety of minor girls. Without active intervention, vulnerable minority communities remain at risk of systematic abuse.