LAHORE:The National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has urged the Government of Punjab to intervene in the case of a 14-year-old Christian boy, Shamraiz Masih, from Sargodha, who was allegedly abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and subjected to sexual abuse — describing the matter as a “grave violation of child rights.”
In a letter addressed to Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Zahid Akhtar Zaman, NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq requested the provincial government to become a party to the ongoing court proceedings “in the interest of justice and to ensure protection of the child victim’s fundamental rights.”
The Commission’s appeal follows a series of legal and administrative developments that have placed the minor’s welfare at the centre of a broader debate on the state’s responsibility in protecting children from religious coercion and abuse. According to official correspondence, the NCRC first took cognisance of the case on July 24, 2025, after receiving reports that Shamraiz had been abducted and forced to convert. The Commission issued a notice to the District Police Officer (DPO) of Sargodha seeking updates and a progress report.
Subsequently, the child appeared before a Judicial Magistrate in Lahore and recorded a statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), claiming that he had not been abducted and had left home voluntarily. Days later, the Guardian Court Lahore granted temporary custody of the child to his maternal uncle, Muhammad Khurram, who had converted to Islam. However, the victim’s family, along with representatives of the Minority Rights Movement Pakistan, later visited the NCRC on August 18, submitting a formal appeal for the boy’s recovery. The boy’s mother alleged that her son had been sexually assaulted, prompting the Commission to direct the DPO to include Sections 375 and 376 (rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in the First Information Report (FIR).
A personal hearing was held at the NCRC headquarters on August 26, attended by the victim’s relatives, the accused, and the police. During the session, the family contended that they were neither informed about the judicial hearing nor allowed to participate in the recording of the statement under Section 164 CrPC. The NCRC observed that the minor’s statement, recorded without the presence or consent of parents or legal guardians, was legally questionable under the Lahore High Court’s 2020 judgment (PLD 2020 Lahore 489 – Nasira v. Judicial Magistrate & others), which prohibits minors from making unilateral declarations on matters of religion or custody.
The Commission further noted that while it has taken all steps permissible under its legal mandate, it cannot conduct a parallel inquiry as the matter remains sub judice. “In light of the gravity of the case and the sensitivity surrounding the victim’s age, background, and allegations of abuse, it is imperative that the Punjab government intervenes to uphold the principles of child protection and justice,” the letter emphasised.
The case has reignited national debate on the enforcement of child rights laws, protection of minority children, and the need for systemic safeguards against forced conversions.