Gulnaz a minor of 13 Kidnapped and Forced to Marriage after Conversion

Update on Gulnaz Kidnapping case
 
Gulnaz d/o Mushtaq Masih aged 13, resident of Jaranwala is a city in the Faisalabad District of Punjab, Pakistan was kidnapped by a neighbor named Yousaf aged 50, on March 01, 2016. The girl was raped, forced to convert in to Islam and forced to get married to the rapist.
On the approach of poor Parents Mushtaq Masih and his wife Musarat Bibi, Christians’ True Spirit –CTS has filed a case of recovery (Habeas Petition) of the minor Gulnaz on 27th of June, 2016 through the counsel Mr. Nadeem Anthony advocate High Court and Mohammad Naeem Bhatti advocate High Court.
The case was filed in the court of Mr. Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan. On the said date Mr. Justice issued notice to the Investigation Officer (IO) of case FIR No. 208 / 16 Police Station Saddar Jaranwala, District Faislabad to produce the minor Gulnaz in the court on June 30.
The Court hearing adjourned for 30th June, 2016. And the investigation officer (IO) directed to produce kidnapped / minor Gulnaz on the said date.Today on 30th Of June, 2016, the investigating Officer (IO) appeared and brought in to the knowledge of the honorable court that the kidnapped / minor Gulnaz is hiding from the Police and requested the court to give him time to produce Gulnaz for the next date of hearing.
The honorable judge directed him to produce the kidnapped / minor within half an hour the same day.  Again after the time Investigation Officer seeks some more time but he was failed to produce her.
In between the deputy attorney general (Prosecutor) requested the Judge to give some time to the concerned IO for the recovery of the kidnapped / minor. Upon the request the honorable Judge issued a notification to the Station House Officer (SHO), Police Jaranwala, and ordered to recover the minor Gulnaz as soon as possible and produce her in the Court at any cost on 1st of July, 2016 (tomorrow).
Opinion:-
There is possibility, the honorable Judge can provide some time for a meeting of minor Gulnaz with her parents. Although, Gulnaz is a minor and not able to take any decision of her marriage by own it is already in the mind of the judge that she must be pressurized and forced to give statement against her parents therefore it would be possible the Judge can send her in a state custody (government women shelter house) to be relax and think about her parents without any fear and pressure.
CTS is very much concerned that the Gulnaz is a minor and must be fearful for her killing by the kidnapper if she decide to go to with her parents rather she go with her Muslim husband. Katherine Sapna Director CTS has planned to attend the court hearing along with the team tomorrow for moral support to the poor parents of Gulnaz and for their encouragement.
The situation for Religious minorities especially Christians is getting worsened as they are victimize day to day. Kidnapping of young Christian girls and forced conversion is on high rate as the report of HRCP says that about 1000 Christian and Hindu girls are forced to convert in to Islam by the Muslim extremists. 18 Christian girls has been kidnapped and forced for conversion and marriage in Punjab in the period of two months recently in April and May 2016. Muslim extremists not only targeting young girls but also creating problems for the minority communities especially Christians who live in the villages and towns are forced to leave the village or convert in to Islam. They live under the high life risk as Muslims threatened openly to burn their houses and burn them alive if they refuse conversion.
 
CTS Reporting department
June 30, 2016