ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice of women trafficking in twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The notice was taken following the publication of a news story in a section of media under the caption “Women trafficking in twin cities goes on unchecked” and a column “Sub Gongay Kun Ho Gay”, narrating the story of a 40-year-old woman, mother of three hailing from Rawalpindi, who was sold to different people and reached Afghanistan. Her abductors demanded Rs 300,000 for her return while the police admitted that it couldn’t do anything in this situation.
The story further revealed that innumerable women from Pakistan were sold to Afghanistan by an organised gang of more than 150 members through fake marriage deeds. There were also many cases where women were used for sex slavery.
The news story divulged that FIR of the 40 year woman was registered on January 1, 2017 with Airport Police Station, Rawalpindi, but it was in vain as police was using conventional delaying tactics. The husband of the abducted woman, received a phone call of an agent from Afghanistan who demanded Rs.300,000 to release her wife otherwise he would sell her to someone else. Her husband being a daily wager could not manage such a huge amount to bring his kids’ mother back.
The story further revealed the details that the agent paid Rs 50,000 to her husband and she was told that she would be back to Pakistan in 15 days. But when she told the reality to the Afghan handlers that she was married and had kids, the Afghan agent held her as captive and now he was demanding Rs.300,000 from Pakistani agents to cover his losses.
The news story further stated that Khanna Pull, Fauji Colony, Chuhur, Koh-e-Noor Mills area in Rawalpindi city are the hub of this gang. There are more than 150 members of this gang who apparently work under the guise of matchmakers. They track poor families having grown-up girls, bring some matches and offer a handsome amount of money to them. Once the parents agree, they sell them either in Afghanistan or to anyone in the country. Moreover, the gang have sold many Pakistani girls in Afghanistan or Afghan girls in Pakistan, to the old villagers through fake Nikkah solemnized by a Nikkah registrar, usually the prayer leader of a big mosque in the same vicinity on a commission of Rs 5,000 per Nikkah. An aged Pakistan national lady, residing in Swabi leads the gang’s activities in Afghanistan. She takes the girls with her to Jalalabad and sells them to Afghan agents. The gang keeps on changing their houses so as not be traced by their previous preys.
Taking notice of the issue, the CJP has called reports from IGP, Islamabad and Punjab within three days.
