Faisalabad: February 4, 2017. (PCP) Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association PMTA in a letter has appealed Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan, Chairman National Commission on Hurman Rights NCHR, Government of Pakistan for recovery of Sana Shahid, a minor Christian student who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam and given in marriage to a Muslim man in Sialkot city. Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir, resident of Mohallah Kasayian, Rodes Road, Mianapura, Sialkot abducted Sana Shahid D/O Shahid John, who was 13 years old student of grade 5, forcibly converted to Islam and forcibly married on November 9, 2015 (2 years, 2 months and 21 days ago) of Rodes Road, Mianapura, Sialkot while she was going to her Government Girls Primary School, Mianapura (West) Sialkot. Sana’s desperate daddy is crying, “Many days have passed, when our daughter will be returned to us?” First Information Report (FIR) number 933/15 was logged in the Hajipura Police Station Sialkot on the same day on November 9, 2015. Here is copy of an open letter of Professor Anjum James Paul; Ref.No.PMTA/14-16/17-KPR Dated: February 4, 2017 To Mr. Justice (Retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, Chairman National Commission on Human Rights Government of Pakistan Islamabad Subject: - REQUEST FOR RECOVERY OF SANA SHAHID, A MINOR CHRISTIAN STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN ABDUCTED, FORCIBLY CONVERTED TO ISLAM AND MARRIED ON NOVEMBER 9, 2015 IN SIALKOT Honourable Sir, Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA). PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above. Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir, resident of Mohallah Kasayian, Rodes Road, Mianapura, Sialkot abducted Sana Shahid D/O Shahid John, who was 13 years old student of grade 5, forcibly converted to Islam and forcibly married on November 9, 2015 (2 years, 2 months and 21 days ago) of Rodes Road, Mianapura, Sialkot while she was going to her Government Girls Primary School, Mianapura (West) Sialkot. Sana’s desperate daddy is crying, “Many days have passed, when will our daughter be returned to us?” First Information Report (FIR) number 933/15 was logged in the Hajipura Police Station Sialkot on the same day on November 9, 2015. RECORD OF SANA SHAHID’S DATE OF BIRTH i. Birth Registration Certificate, Government of Punjab, Pakistan: April 17, 2002 ii. Catholic Church Birth Certificate: April 17, 2002 iii. School Leaving Certificate: April 17, 2002 SANA SHAHID’S AGE ON MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE According to the marriage certificate Sana Shahid is 18 years of age negating the above mentioned three official records regarding her date of birth. THERE IS FAILURE OF THE STATE TO PROTECT SANA SHAHID AS THERE IS OPEN VIOLATION OF; 1. Punjab Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015 2. According to Punjab Commission for Women Rights i. It is a crime to marry a girl under the age of 16. ii. Underage and forced marriage is a punishable crime. iii. There is 6 months prison and 50000 rupees fine not only for the person who marries a girl under the age of 16 but also for that person who performs the marriage ceremony and who registers the marriage as well. 3. Section 365 B of Pakistan Penal Code 4. National Action Plan 2014 regarding ‘religious persecution and protection of minorities’ 5. Punjab Child Protection Bureau 6. Article 20 (a) of the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees, “Every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion.” 7. Article 25 A of the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees, “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.” 8. Article 36 the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees, “The State shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services.” ROLE OF CONCERNED QUARTERS IN SANA’S CASE i. Local police has been biased and pressurizing the victim family to withdraw FIR against the accused. ii. Court has failed to provide justice to the victim family though all documentary evidence that proves that Sana Shahid is a minor. iii. Sana Shahid has not been returned to her family though efforts have been made from top level to bottom level for the last 818 days. iv. No action has been taken against the accused Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir who has openly violated the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, National Action Plan 2014 regarding ‘religious persecution and protection of minorities’, Section 365 B of Pakistan Penal Code, Punjab Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015, Punjab Commission for Women Rights, Punjab Child Protection Bureau. IMPACT OF THE ABDUCTION, FORCED CONVERSION AND FORCED MARRIAGE: Sana’s father Mr. Shahid John has lost senses. He beats his wife and children. The family is suffering worst economic crisis. Her brothers and sisters have left school in fear of abduction, forced conversion to Islam and forced child marriage from the day of her abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage. QUESTIONS ARISE HERE; i. Why minor Sana Shahid has not yet been returned to her family? ii. Is it just because she is from religious minority that is a marginalized and under privileged class? iii. Why Muslims have the benefit of majority in the cases of forced conversions and forced marriages even by the courts which become biased in such cases? As in this case, court has thrown the official record of her birth in the dustbin and ordered the victim to be handed over to the accused Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir. iv. Why non-Muslims are treated as other citizens in their own homeland violating Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan? v. Why most of the non-Muslim minor girls and married women in Pakistan are soft target of forced conversion to Islam and forced marriage? vi. Why non-Muslim students are forcibly converted to Islam violating Article 22 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan through textbooks and educational environment? VOICE FOR SANA SHAHID PMTA has raised voice for the victim but she has not yet been recovered though requests have been made through letters, meetings and other forums. i. Letter to honorable Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad, Ref. No. 59-71/15 Dated November 16, 2015, Subject “Request to Save Beliefs and Religious Freedom of Non-Muslim Students and Teachers” ii. Letter to honorable Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, Ref. No. PMTA/72/15, dated December 22, 2015, Subject “Recovery of Sana Shahid, A 13 years old Christian student who has been abducted, converted and forcibly married” iii. Letter to honorable Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad, Ref. No. PMTA/73-78/15, dated December 28, 2015, Subject, “Pakistani Textbooks A Hindrance in the National Action Plan” iv. Letter to honorable Mr. Abdul Sattar, Director, National Commission on Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Ref. No. PMTA/79/15, dated December 29, 2015, Subject “Reminder Regarding Sana Shahid, A 13 years old Christian student who has been abducted, converted and forcibly married” Note: The matter was discussed and documents were provided to the honorable Director during a meeting with him in his office in Islamabad on December 14, 2015. v. Letter to honorable Mr. Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan Islamabad, Ref. No. PMTA/81/15, dated December 31, 2015, Subject “Reminder Regarding Sana Shahid, A 13 years old Christian student who has been abducted, converted and forcibly married” Note: Matter was brought in the notice when honorable Chairman was Acting President of Pakistan in an Award ceremony at Margalla Hotel Islamabad on December 15, 2015. Documents were also provided during the ceremony. vi. Letter to honorable Mr. Abdul Sattar, Director, National Commission on Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Ref. No. PMTA/02/16-kpr, dated January 23, 2016, Subject “Sana Shahid’s Daddy Asks “When Our Daughter Be Returned To Us”. vii. Letter to Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Chief Justice Lahore High Court Lahore, No. PMTA/15-16/16-KPR, dated March 21, 2016 , Subject “ Request for recovery of Sana Shahid, a 13 years old minor Christian student who has been forcibly married” viii. On the request of PMTA, honorable Mrs. Shunila Ruth (MPA) brought the matter of Sana on Point of Order during the session in the Punjab Assembly on February 4, 2016. Honorable Mr. Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Punjab Minister for Human Rights & Minorities Affairs admitted in the session that it was a forced conversion case. He promised to produce Sana in a week but it is so sad that she has not yet been recovered even after 818 days of her abduction. FEEDBACK WITHOUT SOLOVING PROBLEM i. PMTA received letter from Mr. Abdul Sattar, Director NCHR, National Commission for Human Rights, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Dy.No.2/Director(NCHR)/2015, dated 5th January, 2016, Subject “VIOLATION OF RIGHTS OF GIRL CHILD” ii. PMTA received letter from Mr. Mian Raza Rabbani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Islamabad No.1/SEN/CO/2016, dated 20th Jan. 2016 (Note) Subject is not mentioned but the reply of the letter which was sent to him on December 31, 2015 regarding abduction of a Christian girl. The honorable Chairman has mentioned in the letter, “I will forward this case to the Committee on Human Rights.” iii. Victim Sana Shahid has not yet been produced though honorable Mr. Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Punjab Minister for Human Rights & Minorities Affairs promised to produce Sana in a week on February 4, 2016. Sir, PMTA humbly requests you to return Sana Shahid to her family who is a victim of forced conversion and forced marriage and is being raped by Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir for the last 818 days. With best regards. PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN Copy to 1. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad 2. Mr. Kamran Michael, Federal Minister for Human Rights, Islamabad Copies attached herewith; 1) Birth Registration Certificate, Government of Punjab, Pakistan 2) Catholic Church Birth Certificate 3) School Leaving Certificate 4) Marriage Certificate (pages 1 & 2) 5) Copy of First Information Report (FIR)