In the last 18 months, 629 Pakistani girls from marginalised households were allegedly sold as brides to Chinese men in a recently released report by Pakistani investigators.
The list was created based on Pakistan's integrated border management system, which is a digital recording of travel document's at the country's airport. The report has information on bride's national identity numbers, their Chinese husband's names and the dates of their marriages.
Instead of further probing into the matter, sources reveal "immense pressure" imposed upon the investigators by the Pakistani Government. Saleem Iqbal, an activist, has defied the norms and spoke against the menace of human trafficking under the veil of false marriage and hope of a better livelihood in China to poor Pakistani families.
Some of the women who have been rescued by the investigators told about the forced fertility treatment, physical and sexual abuse meted to them in China. There are also reports on Pakistani women forced into prostitution and organ trade.
Amidst the blatant abuse of human rights, both the countries are silent on the issue. While one may understand China's denial of such accusation, it is unforthcoming why Pakistan is turning a blind eye to their daughters?
Sumaira narrated the horrors of being repeatedly raped by Chinese men at a house in Islamabad where she stayed after her marriage was arranged to an older Chinese man by her brother.
Mahek Liaqat, another Pakistani Christian woman, recalled her forceful marriage with a Chinese man and she too, along with other women was taken to a house in Islamabad.
Muqadas Ashraf is yet another victim of this bride trafficking who was married to a Chinese national at the age of 16.
There are a couple of points to note:
1. Pakistani Christian girls are targetted as they are the poorest in Muslim-majority country.
2. The country is receiving massive aid from China under China's Belt and Road initiative.
3. As a result of the one-child policy, China has 34 million more men than women.
Now a much bigger question.
Since the women trafficked belong to a minority community in Pakistan therefore the Government is keen to put the matter under the carpet?
Or is it because Pakistan's financial dependence on China is unimaginably massive that the country has vowed to abide by whatever China demands? Even if they ask their women in exchange? As cringeworthy the statement sounds, much more cringier rather appalling, dehumanising, disgraceful is the reality.
Or is the blame solely on China who is using its economic and political might to bridge the crisis of gender gap in its own country?
Even if China is trying to bridge the gap, how does that justify sexual, mental abuse of women they traffick to their country and deny them the basic dignity of human life?
But what can we expect from a nation which under the guise of education is systematically converting, torturing Chinese Uighurs?
So what is the solution? Or is there any?
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