Mahnoor was only fifteen years old when her family reported that she had disappeared from Sherakot, Lahore.
According to information later provided by Mahnoor, she was taken to the mountainous district of Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a security guard named Junaid. During her time there, she alleged that she was held against her will, pressured to convert to Islam, and forced into marriage.
Mahnoor later told The EDGE Foundation that she repeatedly resisted these demands but eventually came under immense psychological pressure. She alleged that she was compelled to make a statement before a court claiming that she had willingly converted to Islam and entered into the marriage.
Efforts to secure her recovery became increasingly difficult after influential members of a local Jirga reportedly became involved in the case. According to the family, their intervention complicated legal efforts, and local authorities were reluctant to take effective action.
Despite these challenges, Mahnoor secretly managed to contact her father and informed him that she wanted to return home.
Her family immediately approached The EDGE Foundation for legal assistance.
Through persistent advocacy, careful negotiations, and sustained legal efforts, arrangements were eventually made for Mahnoor’s safe return. After spending months away from her family, she was finally reunited with her parents.
Recognising the severe emotional trauma she had experienced, The EDGE Foundation arranged counselling and has continued supporting her recovery as she rebuilds her life.
At Mahnoor’s request, and to protect her privacy and safety, her identity has been carefully safeguarded. No photographs or identifying information have been released publicly.
The Foundation is also pursuing civil legal proceedings to challenge the legality of the alleged marriage and restore Mahnoor’s legal identity.