Woman, who went missing, converts to Islam in Ghotki

Family has registered an FIR of the woman’s disappearance from DHA Phase 2, Karachi

KARACHI: A 22-year-old Hindu woman, Mehak Keswani, who went missing from the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Karachi on Friday, has converted to Islam in Ghotki.

In a video statement available with The Express Tribune, Mehak can be seen reciting the Kalma and saying that she has willingly converted to Islam and was not being kept in captivity by anyone. The video statement has been released in two languages - Sindhi and Urdu.

She said that her new Muslim name was Mehak Fatima, adding that she had travelled to Dargah Bharchoondi Shareef located near Daharki in Ghotki district, where Mian Javed performed the formal ceremony of her conversion to Islam.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mian Mithoo, a maternal uncle of Mian Javed, said that Mehak, along with a local Muslim man, identified as Muhammad Ashar, visited his village on Sunday. "She has willingly converted to Islam," he confirmed. "It was not a forced conversion," he added.

Police arrest 12 persons in Ghotki forced conversion case

Mithoo, who is famous for facilitating such conversions, said that whoever visits his home and asks to convert to Islam, is facilitated and aided by all his family members and followers. "We also support them financially and provide shelter if someone is in need," he explained.

According to Mithoo, the couple has left for Punjab, adding that it was their first visit. "I just know that they were class fellows," he maintained. "Both the boy and the girl were intelligent," he added.

Meanwhile, the woman's family has registered an FIR at the Defence Police Station on December 13, stating that Mehak Keswani, daughter of Amar Lal, went missing from DHA Phase 2 on Friday evening. "She was living with us for some time," said Dr Siri Chand, a maternal uncle of Mehak. "Police did not act in a timely manner," he alleged.  Dr Chand said that the family was unaware of Mehak's whereabouts. "She was kidnapped but we have not received any call from anyone yet," he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mehak's uncle confirmed that his niece and Ashar were friends. "Both were class fellows. We have also tried to approach his family members but Ashar hasn't been in touch with them either," he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2019.