After nearly two agonizing months of fear, heartbreak, and relentless legal battles, 14-year-old Christian girl Saneha Sharif is finally home. Her parents, Sharif Masih and his wife, clung to each other as they welcomed their daughter back into their arms—an embrace that carried the weight of their suffering, their prayers, and their unyielding hope.
Saneha’s nightmare began on January 9, 2025, in the Korpur area of Sialkot, Punjab, when she was forcefully taken by a group of individuals, including Samina (wife of Muhammad Usman), Muhammad Dildar Hassnain, and Muhammad Shabbir. A witness saw them forcing her into a vehicle before vanishing, leaving her family shattered and desperate. For weeks, they battled uncertainty, clinging only to their faith and the support of the Edge Foundation, a human rights organization dedicated to defending persecuted minorities.
From the moment an FIR was filed, the legal battle was grueling. Key suspect Muhammad Shabbir was arrested and placed under physical remand, yet the days turned into weeks with no sign of Saneha. Each passing moment deepened the dread in her parents’ hearts—was she safe? Was she alive? The Edge Foundation’s legal team, led by the unwavering commitment of lawyers Alber Victor and Sohail Gill, fought fiercely, refusing to let Saneha’s voice be silenced.
Their persistence bore fruit when, on February 19, 2025, in a tense late-night operation, police finally recovered Saneha and placed her in protective custody. Hope flickered again—but it was far from over. When she was presented before the magistrate the next morning, her lips trembled, and fear clouded her eyes. The trauma of her captivity had stolen her voice. Instead of returning home, she was sent to Darul Aman, a government shelter home, prolonging the anguish of her parents who longed to hold their daughter once more.
For weeks, the battle continued in the courts. Each hearing was another wound, another moment of torment as Saneha remained unable to express the horrors she had endured. On March 3, 2025, when she was presented at the Lahore High Court, her fate was once again uncertain. The shelter doors closed behind her once more, leaving her parents in tears, their cries for justice echoing through the halls of justice.
But they never gave up.
Then came the day that changed everything—March 6, 2025. At 1 PM, Saneha stood before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Sialkot, her voice trembling but resolute. For the first time, she spoke her truth—she wanted to go home. The court, finally recognizing her right to be with her family, granted her release.
Tears streamed down her parents’ faces as they saw their daughter walk toward them, the months of torment melting into an embrace that spoke of pain, love, and the triumph of justice. It was a moment of indescribable relief, of victory hard-earned.
While this is a moment of victory, it is also a stark reminder of the injustices that religious minorities continue to face. Saneha’s story is one of survival, resilience, and the power of legal advocacy. It is a beacon of hope for countless other families who are still searching for their missing daughters, still waiting for justice.
The battle for her return has been won, but the war for justice continues. As for Saneha, she is finally home, safe in the arms of her family, where she belongs.
For now, there is solace. For now, there is hope. But the fight must go on.