Hindu family seeks converted married girl’s custody

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

HYDERABAD: Members of the local Hindu community staged a demonstration on Sunday to protest delay in the handing over to them of a Hindu girl who wedded a Muslim man “despite being underage”.

The protest, led by Pakistan Darawar Ittehad chairman Faqira Sheva Kachhi, the girl’s mother Shirimati Amri, and sisters Sona and Bahgwati, was held outside the local press club.

Shiva Kachhi claimed that the girl, Chanda, was 16-year-old and came from Maharaj’s family that had settled in Hyderabad after migrating from Matli. He alleged that she was kidnapped by a man, Shaman Magsi, some 45 days ago from the Hali Road area. He said that 15 days back, she was produced in a Hyderabad court, which ordered her medical examination.

Mr Kachhi claimed that the medical examination established her age as 16 years but court remanded her custody to Daraul Aman, where her parents were not allowed to meet her.

But Shaman Magsi, who married her, had been meeting her regularly.

He further claimed that Chanda’s marriage was illegal and, therefore, she should be handed over to her family. He demanded that a forced conversion and unlawful marriage case should be registered against Magsi and all those responsible for this marriage should also be taken to task.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 07:53pm

Seeking the custody of a converted girl by her family and community is a genuine demand and as per law she cannot be married being underage converstion of a religion without one's consent is also against the law. The allegations levelled the Hindu family are that the girl was converted and subsequently married to a Muslim man namely Shaman Magsi by using coercion, and against the girl's consent. Moreover, she is underage as far as conversation of religion and to get married are concerned and

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 08:01pm

according to the laws in this connection, both acts are not allowed and if one commitds has to be held as violator of laws and need to be arrested and taken to the task. Besides, it has also been claimed that the medical investigation as regards the age of the girl carried out that reported her 16 years. However, it is not clear that the statement of the underage claimed girl was recorded by the honor cour and other investigation of evidences, witnesses produced by the prosecution thereof.

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 08:08pm

It is the requirement of the law and responsibilities of prosecution and investigation team to probe the matter from every angle thoroughly being sensitive issue pertaining to minority and religion converstion. Pakistan constitution provides ample number of rights to all its citizens including minorities and a host of provisions provide them safety to their life, property, religion practice. The concerned authorities should take strict action against the admin of the Dar-ul-Aman where her

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 08:14pm

her family members especially parents are not being allowed to meet her, and must investigate as to whether the alleged person Shamn Magsi is meeting the girl as accused by the family. If investigation is carries out impartially with integrity, the accused person must be taken to task as the forced conversation and illegitimate marriage are heinous crime and we must raise voice against this practice and discourage it.

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 09:22pm

However, a law thereof would not get worse the tranquility, instead stop such illegal acts and enhance the conference of the minority to a greater extent and crime could be controlled as well. In this connection the Sindh Province assembly had passed a law in 2016, namely the Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Act, 2015, prohbiting forced religious conversions. This law contains the title " Age of Conversion",

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 09:24pm

whereby children are prohibited from converting to a different religion until they do not attain majority and are minors. Taking into account this said Act, 2016, the hindu family is rightly demanding the handing over their girl who is still minor. Even, this minor girl gives statement and claims her own willful conversion, this is also not acceptable unless she attains age of 18. Nevertheless, provisions of this act do not extend to a scenario of the family

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 09:41pm

when the family or parents, even guardian in respect of the minor make a decision to change thir religion. The person accused of this crime will have to meet the prescribed punishment of minimum imprisonment of five years and the maximum term of life imprisonment. As regards the custody of a girl or victim of forced conversion, the authorities are responsible to provide temporary shelter during trial as the said law stipulates.

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Majid Burfat

Nov 07, 2022 09:49pm

Besides, the honourable court can use its discretion in the interest of the victim’s protection and security to decide the victim's whereabout and to withhold information thereof. But it is also to make ensure the fair investigation to disburse justice irrespective of any cast, creed, color, and of course religion Transparency during investigation is much needed for the veracity of actual facts and evidences especially the nonpartisan prosecution by an intelligent IO with a good credibility

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