For Mariam Bibi’s family, every day without their 13-year-old daughter has been filled with uncertainty, fear and unanswered questions.
The Christian schoolgirl from Pakistan’s Vehari District disappeared after, according to her family, she was persuaded to leave home by an adult Muslim man who had become known to the family through their difficult financial circumstances.
Now, her relatives are desperately seeking her safe recovery while alleging that local police failed to register their complaint or take immediate action despite being informed that the missing child was only thirteen years old.
Mariam comes from a financially vulnerable Christian family living in rural Punjab.
According to her relatives, her father, Asif Masih, has struggled with drug addiction and has been unable to provide regular financial support for the household. To keep the family afloat, Mariam’s mother earned a small income by completing packing work from home for a local contractor, Muhammad Mohsin.
Because of this arrangement, Mohsin regularly visited the family’s home to deliver and collect work.
According to Mariam’s family, he gradually gained their trust before allegedly beginning to groom the young girl by promising her a better life and financial security.
The family alleges that Mohsin eventually persuaded Mariam to leave home without her parents’ knowledge or consent.
After she disappeared, her parents searched extensively for their daughter but were unable to find any trace of her.
According to the family, they later learned that Mohsin had allegedly converted Mariam to Islam and entered into a purported marriage with her.
The family further alleges that Mohsin is already married and the father of two children. They also claim that his first wife opposes the alleged marriage involving Mariam.
Deeply distressed by their daughter’s disappearance, Mariam’s father approached the local police station to report the incident and requested the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).
However, according to the family, police refused to register the complaint despite being informed that Mariam was only thirteen years old.
The family also alleges that no meaningful investigation was initiated and that, instead of receiving assistance, they were discouraged and intimidated when seeking police intervention.
Unable to secure help through the local authorities, Mariam’s grandfather contacted The EDGE Foundation and requested urgent legal assistance.
After receiving the family’s request, representatives of the Foundation conducted preliminary fact-finding, interviewed family members and reviewed the information available.
Based on its initial assessment, The EDGE Foundation agreed to provide legal representation and assist the family in pursuing all available legal remedies to secure Mariam’s safe recovery.
The Foundation is currently preparing the necessary legal proceedings while continuing to monitor developments in the case and engage with the relevant authorities.
The preliminary findings raise serious concerns regarding the alleged grooming of a financially vulnerable child, the reported abduction of a thirteen-year-old Christian girl, an alleged child marriage, and the apparent failure of law enforcement authorities to respond promptly to a missing child report.
The case also raises broader concerns about the protection of children from minority communities who may be particularly vulnerable because of poverty, social marginalisation and limited access to justice.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly emphasised that every report involving a missing child requires an immediate and effective response by law enforcement authorities, regardless of the child’s religious background or economic circumstances.
For Mariam’s family, however, the priority remains unchanged.
They simply want their thirteen-year-old daughter to be found and returned home safely.
With legal support now underway, the family hopes the authorities will act quickly to recover Mariam, investigate the allegations thoroughly and ensure that her rights and welfare remain the foremost consideration throughout any legal proceedings.