A deeply alarming incident of alleged abduction and suspected forced conversion has surfaced in the city of Wazirabad, Punjab, where a 15-year-old Christian girl, Afia d/o Pervaiz Masih, has been missing since May 20, 2025. Her disappearance has sparked grave concerns among human rights organizations and minority communities.

According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 701/25) filed at the Wazirabad Police Station, Afia was last seen at her home in Faqeer Ullah Colony. Her parents, both poor labourers, had left for work around 7:00 AM, leaving their teenage daughter alone at home. When Afia’s mother returned at approximately 10:00 AM, she found the house empty and her daughter missing.

Frantic efforts to locate the child—including searches around the neighbourhood and calls to relatives—proved unsuccessful. Fearing the worst, her father, Pervaiz Masih, approached the police and registered the incident as a possible kidnapping for the purpose of rape or forced marriage. The case was formally booked under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The matter was referred to Muhammad Khawar Saeed and Sub-Inspector Aroosa Shahnaz of the Special Sexual Offences and Investigation Unit (SSOIU) for further inquiry. However, despite more than ten days having passed, the police have neither recovered the girl nor arrested any suspects.

Speaking to local reporters, Pervaiz Masih expressed his anguish and frustration. “It’s been almost two weeks. My daughter is still missing and no one has been held accountable. The silence from the authorities is heartbreaking,” he said.

Afia is expected to turn 16 in August—an age that places her at significant risk under the guise of child marriage, especially in regions where forced conversions and marriages of underage minority girls are frequently reported. Rights activists fear that the girl may have already been subjected to religious conversion and wed to one of her alleged abductors, a pattern seen in several past cases.

Christian leaders and civil society groups have called for immediate intervention by senior police officials and the provincial government. They warn that prolonged inaction could not only endanger Afia’s life but also deepen mistrust among religious minority communities toward the justice system.

As of now, the case remains unresolved, and Afia’s whereabouts are still unknown. The family continues to plead for justice and the safe return of their daughter.