Faisalabad: March 23, 2016. (PCP) In a letter No. PMTA/15-16/16-KPR, dated March 21, 2016 to Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association has requested for recovery of Sana Shahid, a 13 years old minor Christian student who has been forcibly married in Sialkot, Pakistan. The content of the letter is; To Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan Chief Justice Lahore High Court Lahore Subject: -REQUEST FOR RECOVERY OF SANA SHAHID, A 13 YEARS OLD MINOR CHRISTIAN STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN FORCIBLY MARRIED 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,a 13 years old student of grade 5, forcibly converted to Islam and forcibly married on November 9, 2015 (134 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 agenegating the above mentioned three official records regarding her date of birth. IN SANA SHAHID CASE 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. The local police has been biased and pressurizing the victim family to withdraw FIR against the accused Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir. ii. The local judiciary has failed to provide justice to the victim family though all documentary evidence has been provided 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 134 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: i. Sana’s twin sister Hina and her brothers have left school. Hina is so much psychologically upset that she says that she is afraid that she would also be treated in the same way as her sister Sana if she is on her way to school. ii. Abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of Sana has broken the dream of Hina (her sister) who desires to become a doctor but left school in fear. She could not even appear in grade 5 examinations held by Punjab Examination Commission in February, 2016. iii. Christian, Hindu and other non-Muslim students are terrified. They are forced to leave their education as environment is not safe for them.Teenage girls are kidnapped, forcibly converted and married but no concerned quarter takes any action against such culprits who are the enemies of Christian and other non-Muslim girls. iv. Non-Muslims are socially, economically, educationally and politically kept backward as there is intolerance against them. They do not enjoy equal rights as guaranteed in Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. QUESTIONS ARISE HERE; i. What is the status of non-Muslims in Pakistan regarding their citizenship? ii. Why Sana Shahid has not yet been returned to her family? iii. Are laws for all citizens? iv. If yes, then why there is discrimination in non-Muslims case/s only? v. Is accused Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir more powerful than the law enforcing agencies? vi. Is accused Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir enjoying the benefit of being from the majority religion? vii. Is it a crime to be less in number on the basis of religion? viii. Why there is meaningful silence of the state run institutions on Sana Shahid case? ix. What is the value of non-Muslim girls and women in Pakistan who are easily stolen from their families? x. Why non-Muslims are treated differently in their own homeland? xi. Why non-Muslim students are forcibly converted to Islam violating Article 22 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan through textbooks and educational environment? xii. There is open violationof Article 25 A of the Constitution of Pakistan in Sana’s house as her sister Hina and her brothers have left school in fears but have any concerned quarters contacted the family or the children? 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. 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 134 days of her abduction. FEEDBACK OF THE PMTA EFFORTS i. PMTA received letter from honorable 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” Note: letter was sent to Inspector General Police, Punjab Province Lahore, Regional Police Officer, Gujranwala Range Gujranwala and District Police Officer (DPO) Sialkot. In the letter, the honorable Director has requested to look in to the matter as per law and furnish a comprehensive report to his office within 10 days from the date of issue of the said letter. ii. PMTA received letter from honorable 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 thoughhonorable Mr. Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Punjab Minister for Human Rights& Minorities Affairspromised to produce Sana in a week on February 4, 2016. Sir, Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association humbly requests you for the production orders of Sana Shahid, a minor girl who is being raped by Waheed Akhter S/O Muhammad Bashir. It is also requested you to take stern action against Waheed Akhter and all others who are enemies of non-Muslim girls and women. We appeal that all citizens in Pakistan must be treated equally and without any discrimination. With best regards. PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN Copy: Registrar, Lahore High Court Lahore Note: Following documentary and documents attached herewith. 1) When will our daughter be returned to us (documentary) 2) Birth Registration Certificate, Government of Punjab, Pakistan 3) Catholic Church Birth Certificate 4) School Leaving Certificate 5) Marriage Certificate (pages 1 & 2) 6) Copy of First Information Report (FIR)