Abductions, conversions, child labour: Pakistan’s own rights body exposes abuse of Christian, Hindu children

Police data reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis and two Sikhs were among the victims during this period, along with 99 others. (Representative Image)

A government-backed investigation has laid bare the deep-rooted discrimination and abuse faced by Christian and Hindu children across Pakistan, challenging the country’s self-image as a tolerant society.

According to a report by ANI, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), Pakistan’s official child rights watchdog, released a damning report titled “Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan”. It details how minority children endure forced conversions, child marriages, bonded labour and institutional neglect, often with little to no legal protection.

Forced conversions and child marriages ‘a daily reality’

According to the report, as cited by ANI, these are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nationwide pattern. Girls from minority communities are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married to older men.

“The victims have few legal options due to bias in law enforcement, overwhelming social pressure and lack of political will,” the report states, as cited by Christian Daily International via ANI.

Between April 2023 and December 2024, the NCRC documented 27 official complaints involving murder, abduction, forced conversions and underage marriages of minority children, numbers believed to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Punjab tops the list for violence

The situation is worst in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, which accounted for 40 percent of reported violence against minority children between January 2022 and September 2024.

Police data reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis and two Sikhs were among the victims during this period, along with 99 others.

Schools as sites of exclusion

Instead of being safe spaces, schools often deepen discrimination. The NCRC criticises Pakistan’s Single National Curriculum for excluding religious diversity, forcing minority students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith, affecting their grades and future opportunities.

Minority children also face ridicule and social isolation from both teachers and classmates. Some avoid asking questions, sitting in the front of classrooms or drinking water from shared glasses for fear of being mocked or pressured to convert, ANI reports citing the data.

Bonded labour and generational poverty

The report also exposes the grim reality of bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children working in brick kilns and agriculture under exploitative conditions.

For decades, Pakistan has projected itself as a country of religious tolerance. But as this government-commissioned report shows, the lived reality for many minority children is one of systemic abuse and exclusion.