18-year-old Girl Killed During Failed Abduction Attempt

22-03-2022

Anna Magdalena Comploi 

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Pooja Oad, an 18-year-old Hindu girl was killed in Rohi, Sukkur during a failed abduction attempt (The Friday Times, 2022). The Friday Times reported that Oad was shot in the middle of the street, while she was trying to resist the abduction (The Friday Times, 2022). According to news reports, the suspect wanted to convert and forcibly marry her (The Friday Times, 2022). In a video shared by GHRD correspondents, the victim can be seen being carried away by the crowd (The Friday Times, 2022) 

This is not an isolated incident (The Friday Times, 2022).  Every year, several women are abducted and converted by religious extremists (The Friday Times, 2022). Forced marriages and conversions are a long-standing issue in Pakistan (The Friday Times, 2022). Between 2013 and 2019, 156 incidents of forced conversions were reported (The Friday Times, 2022). A report by Dawn found that between 2013 and 2020 conversion was carried out in all provinces in Pakistan and throughout all minority communities (Sharma, 2022). A study found that of 162 cases, 46 percent of females were below the age of 18, 16 percent were over 18 and 37 did not mention age (Sharma, 2022). The government tried to outlaw forced conversions in 2019, but the bill faced resistance by religious leaders and protesters and was ultimately rejected (The Friday Times, 2022). The protestors claimed that girls are converting voluntarily, because they are falling in love with Muslim men (The Friday Times, 2022).

Sources and further reading: 

News Desk. (2022, March 22). 18-Year-Old Hindu Girl Reportedly Shot Dead During Abduction Attempt In 

Sukkur. The Friday Times - Naya Daur. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2022/03/21/18-year-old-hindu-girl-reportedly-shot-dead-during-abduction-attempt-in-sukkur/

Sharma, N. (2022b, March 22). Hindu woman killed in Pakistan after refusal to convert. People want 

‘justice for Pooja.’ ThePrint. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://theprint.in/go-to-pakistan/hindu-woman-killed-in-pakistan-after-refusal-to-convert-people-want-justice-for-pooja/883333/