LHC told 80pc of recovered 'missing' girls in Punjab had married by choice

LAHORE: Punjab Police informed the Lahore High Court on Monday that about 80 per cent of girls and women recovered in missing persons cases since 2021 had entered marriages of their own choice, after which kidnapping cases registered against the alleged abductors were cancelled.

The disclosure came in a report submitted before Chief Justice Aalia Neelum during proceedings on a petition filed by Salma Bibi, who sought the recovery of her daughter, Muqadas, allegedly abducted in Kasur. The petitioner said her daughter was kidnapped four years ago and that police had registered a first information report against unidentified suspects, but had made no progress in either arresting anyone or recovering the girl.

Police figures presented in court

During the hearing, DIG Investigation Shoaib Janbaz and other police officers appeared on behalf of the inspector general of police and placed the report before the court. 3,258 women and girls had been reported missing across Punjab as of April 22, 2026. Of them, 1,405 had been recovered, while 1,853 remained untraced.

An official also cited province-wide data on FIRs registered from 2021 onwards, stating that 105,244 cases involving missing women and girls had been registered during the period. Of these, 103,351 had been resolved through recoveries, while 1,847 cases were still pending.

When asked about the circumstances in which the recovered girls were found, DIG Janbaz told the court that around 80 per cent had contracted marriages of their choice. He said kidnapping cases against the alleged abductors were later withdrawn. He further stated that about 15 per cent had returned to their families voluntarily and given statements supporting their parents.

Chief justice seeks progress report

Chief Justice Neelum expressed concern over the large number of women and girls who have yet to be recovered. She observed that the failure to trace so many missing girls reflected poorly on the performance of Punjab Police and remarked that the situation could have been different had timely and effective measures been taken.

The DIG investigation requested two more months to recover the remaining missing girls. However, the chief justice declined the request, observing that six years had already passed and that no further leniency could be allowed. The court directed police authorities to submit a comprehensive progress report within 15 days and adjourned the hearing until June 18.