Sindh government forms probe committee for Ghotki girls

KARACHI: The Sindh government has formed an investigation committee to probe into alleged abduction and forced conversion of two girls from Daharki tehsil of Ghotki, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

A four-member committee has been formed to probe into alleged kidnapping and forced conversion of religion by the girls, a notification said.

The committee will be headed by Secretary Home Department while other members include secretary minority affairs, commissioner, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sukkur.

According to the notification, the committee will also decide for the age of both girls in accordance with data to be acquired from school, union council and National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). Moreover, social life of the girls’ families would also be monitored by the committee.

After completion of the probe, the investigation committee will forward recommendations to the provincial authorities for action if found evidences of negligence by the local police.

A detailed report will be presented to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah by the committee in two days, the notification said.

On April 2, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had set up a five-member commission to probe into the alleged forced conversion and underage marriages of Ghotki’s two Hindu sisters with Muslims men after their abduction.

A medical board was also formed by the IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, to determine the age of both the girls. He directed the federal government to assist the commission in carrying out its task.

The bench was hearing petitions filed by Aasia alias Raveena and Nadia alias Reena who approached the court seeking protection.

The two sisters had gone missing from Hafiz Salman village near Daharki few days back. Later, a video clip surfaced in which they can be heard saying that neither had anyone abducted them nor held them hostage as they left their home out of their own will and embraced Islam without any duress.