CLAAS in Pakistan is fighting for a 12 year-old girl from a Christian family to be returned to her father, after being abducted by relatives.

The abduction took place after the girl’s father had pressed charges against relatives for sexually assaulting three of his daughters.

Khurram Shehzad Victor (35) had been in dispute with his uncle Iqbal’s family over his father’s estate, which was due to be shared equally between the deceased’s children. Khurram, who was being denied a share of the money, was widowed in 2011 and struggling to make ends meet for his family.

Then in April his eldest daughter Suman (12) told him that Iqbal’s sons along with a cousin came to visit their home while he was working and would sexually abuse his three young daughters – all minors.

Khurram and his daughters took temporary refuge in the local police station Haji Pura District Sialkot and filed a complaint against the culprits. After a medical report confirmed that the girls had been sexually assaulted, the police arrested four men for further interrogation and confined them in the police station although they were later released.

The men tried to pressurize Khurram for reconciliation and withdraw the charges against them but he refused. As a result, to punish him further the Iqbal and his sons abducted the eldest daughter Suman on April 22nd hoping that he would finally drop the charges. Suman still hasn’t been released and no attempt has been made by police to rescue her (this incident was by necessity, reported to another police station.)

Khurram and his remaining five daughters approached CLAAS seeking shelter and legal assistance for the recovery of Suman.

On behalf of Khuram, CLAAS have filed a habeas corpus petition on July 25, 2017 in Lahore High Court Lahore for the recovery of Suman. The Judge issued a direction to the Station House Officer for the girl to be brought before the court at the next hearing.