Written by: The Edge Foundation
Article source: Supplied
After nearly two months of uncertainty and legal battles, 14-year-old Christian girl Saneha Sharif has been successfully rescued and reunited with her parents. Her case, which has drawn significant national and international attention, underscores the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan and the crucial role of legal advocacy in securing justice.
Saneha was kidnapped on January 9, 2025, in the Korpur area of Sialkot, Punjab, by a group of individuals, including Samina (wife of Muhammad Usman), Muhammad Dildar Hassnain, and Muhammad Shabbir. According to her father, Sharif Masih, an eyewitness saw the abductors forcibly placing her into a vehicle before fleeing the scene. In response, the Edge Foundation, a human rights organization advocating for persecuted minorities, stepped in to assist the family in their pursuit of justice.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered, leading to the arrest of key suspects, including Muhammad Shabbir, who was placed under a six-day physical remand for interrogation. However, despite these arrests, Saneha remained missing for weeks, raising concerns over her safety and well-being. The Edge Foundation’s legal team, led by lawyers Alber Victor and Sohail Gill, pursued the case vigorously, filing a petition at the Lahore High Court. Justice Amjad Rafique subsequently ordered law enforcement to recover the girl and present her in court.
Following intense legal pressure, police recovered Saneha on February 19, 2025, in a late-night operation and placed her in protective custody. The next morning, she was presented before a magistrate’s court to record her personal statement. However, due to the psychological trauma of her captivity and the intimidation she had faced, she was unable to clearly articulate her ordeal. Rather than being released to her parents, she was sent to Darul Aman (a government shelter home) for further legal proceedings.
Over the following weeks, Saneha was presented multiple times in court, yet each time, she remained unable to fully express her experience. On March 3, 2025, she was once again presented in the Lahore High Court, but instead of being returned to her family, she was sent back to Darul Aman. The Edge Foundation and its legal team remained steadfast, continuing to fight for her safe return.
At last, on March 6, 2025, at 1 PM, Saneha was once again presented before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Sialkot. Represented by Edge Foundation lawyer Albert, she was given the opportunity to speak freely before the court. For the first time, she expressed her clear desire to return to her parents. Recognizing her right to reunite with her family, the court granted permission for her release.
Following the completion of all legal formalities, she was officially discharged from the shelter home and reunited with her parents, marking the end of a painful and traumatic ordeal. Her parents, Sharif Masih and his wife, were overcome with emotion as they embraced their daughter after nearly two months of separation. Expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of the Edge Foundation and its legal team, the family called for greater protections for minority girls at risk of similar abductions.
Edge Foundation Chairperson Azhar S Malik praised the legal team’s tireless efforts, stating: “Justice has finally prevailed. This has been an extremely challenging time for our legal and paralegal teams, especially for our dedicated lawyers Alber and Sohail Gill, who have worked relentlessly to ensure Saneha’s safe return. This victory is not just for one family but for every persecuted minority child who has been a victim of such heinous crimes. It sends a clear message that justice can be achieved when the legal system works in favour of the oppressed. However, our fight does not end here. We must continue to push for stronger laws and stricter enforcement to protect minority girls from abduction and forced conversions.”
This case serves as a critical precedent in the fight against the forced abduction and conversion of minority girls in Pakistan. While this legal victory is significant, human rights activists and legal experts stress the urgent need for stronger enforcement of child protection laws to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Edge Foundation emphasized that continued vigilance is needed to ensure that survivors like Saneha receive psychological support and long-term protection as they reintegrate into society. The successful legal intervention in this case offers hope to many other families facing the same ordeal and highlights the importance of legal advocacy, community support, and international pressure in securing justice.
For now, Saneha is back home, safe in the embrace of her family—a victory hard-earned and a beacon of hope for many others still awaiting justice.
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Date published: 07/03/2025
Feature image: The Edge Foundation
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