Media reports earlier in the day claimed that the Pakistani Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, who was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan, has finally returned home to her parents. Following widespread outrage over rampant forced conversions and the Pakistan government’s inaction, police in Nankana Sahib had informed that the girl has been found and has been handed over to her family. The eight persons arrested include the father of the man who forcibly married the girl.
Now, her family has issued a statement denying such claims as fake news and has clarified that she remains missing.
Family of the Sikh Girl abducted and converted to Islam says, she has not yet been returned to the family. Lies being spread by Pak Govt that the girl is back home. Family counters fake news with Sikh community. Say, we demand justice or else we will be forced to take some step. pic.twitter.com/sAhcHAG8yB
— Zulfikar Hussain (@zulfikar_tiger) August 31, 2019
“Our sister still hasn’t been returned to us despite promises made by the Federal Interior Minister yesterday,” said the brother of the girl. He also alleged that the police are not cooperating and the family is under pressure from Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD). He said that neither the girl has been returned, nor anybody has been arrested in the case, adding that fake news was being spread on this matter.
The family has reiterated their appeal to Pakistani authorities, including Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, that the kidnapped girl be rescued and returned to them.
According to the reports, the girl, identified as 19-year old Jagjit Kaur, was allegedly kidnapped and forced to marry a Muslim man in Pakistan. Reportedly, the Pakistani man, who forcibly converted and married Sikh girl is affiliated to 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s proscribed terror outfit Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD).
The Indian government has also raised the issue with Pakistan and asked for “immediate remedial action”.
The incident came to light on Thursday after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA, Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared a video of the girl’s family alleging that the girl was kidnapped and forcefully converted.
The incident had drawn the attention of Sikhs worldwide and sparked anger in the community. The matter had raised a huge furore in India with several political leaders across parties asking for action to be taken against the perpetrators.
