A Christian family in Pakistan has accused police of failing to properly investigate the disappearance of their 16-year-old daughter, who they say was abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and later married online to a man based in the United Arab Emirates.
The case involves Jia Liaqat, who went missing on 3 April from her family home in Chak No. 505/WB village, Burewala Tehsil in Punjab’s Vehari District. Her father, Liaqat Masih, said the teenager disappeared while he and his wife were working in fields owned by a local landowner.
The family reported the matter immediately to Burewala Police Station and filed a First Information Report (FIR). However, Masih said authorities did not take effective steps to trace her.
Days later, the family received a WhatsApp call from a man identifying himself as Sohail Riaz, who allegedly claimed responsibility for the girl’s situation and warned them against pursuing the case further. The family says they informed police and provided the phone number, but no meaningful progress followed.
Masih alleged that his daughter had been contacted through social media and gradually influenced before being taken away. He also said police later informed the family that Jia had converted to Islam and entered into an online Islamic marriage (Nikah) on 15 April. The marriage was reportedly registered in Punjab’s Kamoke Tehsil.
The family escalated their complaint to senior police officials, arguing that Jia was still a minor and therefore legally unable to marry. Masih further alleged that police response became increasingly hostile after the complaint was filed.
He said they were misled during attempted raids and were not properly informed about developments in the case. Later, the family learned that Jia had appeared before a magistrate and stated that she was an adult who had willingly converted and married. The hearing reportedly took place without the family being present or informed.
Following her statement, two suspects previously detained were released. The family now fears the original abduction case may be dropped.
A rights advocate supporting the family has raised concerns over the handling of the case, questioning whether proper procedures were followed in verifying the girl’s age and circumstances of her conversion and marriage. He also called for an independent investigation into police conduct.
Legal experts in Pakistan have noted ongoing concerns about the reliability of official identity and age records in cases involving alleged forced conversions and marriages of minors, particularly among religious minority communities.
Recent court discussions in the country have also highlighted disputes over documentation standards, with judges questioning whether registration records alone should be treated as conclusive proof of age in sensitive cases.
The case comes amid wider scrutiny of how allegations involving underage Christian girls and conversion cases are handled in Pakistan’s legal system. The country continues to face international concern over religious freedom and minority rights issues.
Pakistan remains listed among the countries where Christians face significant persecution, according to global monitoring organisations.
Based on reporting by Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
