GHOTKI: Three teams of Sindh Police officers reached Punjab Monday evening in hopes to recover the two Hindu girls who were allegedly kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and married off to two boys on March 20 when they were first reported missing.
Separately, the family of Raveena, 12, and Reena Bai, 14, has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court's (LHC) Bahawalpur bench, claiming that the two missing girls were being held against their will.
A hearing in this regard has now been scheduled for later today (Tuesday). The family demanded theirdaughters be presented in the court, even if a formal legal marriage had been conducted, so that their statement can be recorded.
Sindh Police noted that they were in touch with top police officials in Rahim Yar Khan in order to locate the missing girls, whereas authorities in Khanpur took into custody the marriage officiator's father, sons, and brother, as well as thewitness of the ceremony (nikkah khwan).
Khanpur Police said they have commenced an investigation into the matter.
On the other hand,Dr Jameel Ahmed — the additional inspector-general for Sukkur range — said he hoped that the girls would be recovered quickly so that they can present their arguments and/or statements in the court for the truth to be ascertained.
Both boys are the girls' neighbours, Dr Ahmed mentioned.
Earlier in the day, the two minor Ghotki sisters had approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for protection.
The incident came to light after the girls’ father and brother revealed the details in videos that went viral on social media.
Propaganda was being aired against them, the petitioners said, which has endangered the lives of their families. The sisters were allegedly forced to convertto Islam on March 23, 2019.
The petitioners said they accepted Islam with their choice and requested protection from authorities.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered the Sindh government to launch a probe into reports of abduction, forced conversion, and underage marriages of the two teenage Hindu girls and to take immediate steps for their recovery.
In a Twitter post, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry informed that Khan had issued directives to the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to look into reports that the girls in question have been taken to Rahim Yar Khan.