Kandiaro Reporter

A deeply disturbing case of alleged child abduction has emerged from the Kandiaro area, where parents of a nine-year-old girl have accused influential individuals of kidnapping their minor daughter and forcing a false marriage under threat of weapons. The grieving parents have appealed to senior police officials and provincial authorities to intervene immediately, recover their daughter, and ensure strict punishment for those involved.

According to details shared during a press conference at the Kandiaro Press Club, residents of Khanwahen village near Kandiaro, Nahid Khatoon and her husband Riaz Hussain Nizamani, informed media representatives that their innocent daughter, Tamna Khatoon, aged only nine years, was abducted from their home on Sunday morning, January 10, at around 7:00 am.

The parents alleged that the accused, identified as Badshah Khushk, Shoaib Khushk, and their maternal uncle Waheed Nizamani, forcibly entered their house and kidnapped their minor daughter. They said the abduction took place in broad daylight, spreading fear and panic among the family and local residents.

Nahid Khatoon stated that an FIR was promptly registered at Khanwahen Police Station following the incident. However, despite the passage of several days, police have failed to arrest the accused. She alleged that the suspects are influential and are being protected due to their connections and pressure exerted on local law enforcement.

“The police are not taking action against the abductors. Instead, they are siding with them because of their influence,” she said while addressing the media, her voice shaking with emotion. “We are poor and powerless people. We have nowhere else to go.”

The parents further revealed a shocking development, claiming that videos circulated on social media show their minor daughter being forced at gunpoint to give a statement and a so-called “nikah” (marriage) declaration. They strongly rejected the authenticity and legality of the act, emphasizing that their daughter is a child and legally incapable of marriage under Pakistani law.

Riaz Hussain Nizamani said that the alleged forced statement was recorded under intimidation and threats. “Our daughter is only nine years old. She does not even understand the meaning of marriage. The video is fake, staged under pressure, and meant to mislead authorities and the public,” he said.

The parents accused the suspects of being habitual criminals involved in theft, robbery, and other illegal activities in the area. They also alleged collusion between the accused and Khanwahen police, claiming that this nexus is the main reason behind the delay in arrests and lack of effective investigation.

“We fear for our daughter’s life and future,” Nahid Khatoon said. “Every moment she remains in their custody is a moment of danger. This is not just an abduction; it is the destruction of a child’s life.”

During the press conference, the parents made an emotional appeal to Inspector General of Police Sindh, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Shaheed Benazirabad Range, SSP Naushahro Feroze, and other concerned authorities. They demanded a transparent and impartial inquiry into the case, immediate recovery of their daughter, and the arrest and strict punishment of all those involved.

They stressed that child abduction and forced marriage are grave crimes under Pakistani law and urged authorities to enforce the law without discrimination or influence. “If justice is not done, it will send a dangerous message that the powerful can kidnap children and escape accountability,” Riaz Hussain said.

Human rights activists and child protection advocates have repeatedly warned about such incidents, particularly in rural areas, where minors—especially girls—are vulnerable to abuse due to weak law enforcement, social pressure, and the misuse of tribal or feudal influence. Forced marriages involving minors are illegal and a clear violation of national and international child protection laws.

Legal experts say that any marriage involving a minor is void under Pakistani law, and those facilitating or participating in such acts can face severe legal consequences. They emphasize that police are duty-bound to recover the child immediately and provide protection to the family.

As the case gains public attention, pressure is mounting on law enforcement agencies to act decisively. The parents remain hopeful that higher authorities will take notice and ensure justice.

“We only want our innocent daughter back,” Nahid Khatoon said tearfully. “She belongs in school, with her family—not in the hands of criminals.”

The incident has sparked outrage in the local community, with residents demanding swift action to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of children. All eyes are now on the authorities to see whether justice will be delivered and the abducted child safely recovered.