Introduction
The forced abduction, religious conversion, and forced marriage of underage girls from minority communities in Pakistan is an alarming issue. One such case is that of 11-year-old Yarusha, who was deceived into marriage. However, the court intervened and reunited her with her parents.
Role of Saleem Iqbal and Care Council for Human Rights
Yarusha’s parents reached out to human rights activist and journalist Saleem Iqbal for help.
Saleem Iqbal immediately took action and successfully secured Yarusha’s release.
He provided financial assistance and legal support to the family, ensuring that they were not pressured into withdrawing the case.
Through the Care Council for Human Rights, a legal team was arranged to represent the family in court and fight for justice.
Case Details
Muhammad Imran Sarfraz deceived Yarusha into signing marriage documents without her knowledge.
Despite the marriage, Yarusha was left at her parents’ home to avoid suspicion.
After five to six months, Imran filed a petition in court, claiming that Yarusha was his wife and that her parents were unlawfully keeping her away from him.
Saleem Iqbal and his team took the case to court, proving that the marriage was based on deception.
The court immediately ruled in favor of Yarusha’s parents and handed her back to them.
Demands for Justice
- Strict legal action against individuals involved in forced and deceptive marriages.
- Stronger laws to protect underage girls and ensure their enforcement.
- Courts must provide swift justice in such cases to prevent prolonged suffering.
- Government and human rights organizations must take serious measures to protect minority communities.
- A comprehensive law against forced conversions and child marriages must be enacted and strictly implemented.
Conclusion
Yarusha’s case proves that justice is possible, but it requires continuous effort and struggle. Without the intervention of human rights activist Saleem Iqbal, his team, and the Care Council for Human Rights, Yarusha might still have been deprived of her right to make decisions about her own life.
It is time for the government, judiciary, and human rights organizations to take immediate action on such cases to protect vulnerable young girls from being exploited.