Bilquis Edhi objects to FIA investigations

Says no girl ever forcibly married in Edhi homes; 10-year records provided

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is troubling women from Edhi Welfare Homes who married and couples who adopted babies from the shelter homes, said Bilquis Edhi of the Edhi Welfare Organisation on Wednesday, denying that any girl at EWO has ever been forcibly married.

She was raising concerns over the FIA's human trafficking cell seizing records of various welfare organisations and shelter homes a day prior.

The FIA took records for the past 10 years, including details of orphan girls' marriages, adopted children, heirless individuals and bodies, from the Sarim Burney Trust International, Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Welfare Association, among others. After the FIA’s action, an Edhi Foundation spokesperson had said FIA officials were also summoning married girls and their husbands, as well as couples who had adopted children from the shelter homes, in order to verify data.

Speaking to the media in her office in Mithadar, Bilquis said the foundation had eight to 10 shelter homes in the country, seven of which are in Karachi, adding that over 200 skilled and educated girls were being cared for in Edhi homes.

The FIA raided all the shelter homes and summoned women who have lived there or are currently living there, said Bilquis, adding that the interrogation was distressing the women. She further said the families in which the girls were married either considered it inappropriate or feared court visits and investigation. "Such investigations could destroy families, while couples who had adopted children were also fearful the child may be taken away.”

Bilquis told the media that the foundation collected information about grooms and their families before marrying the girls off, explaining that they were permitted to meet the men once and were married if they consented.

The FIA has been provided all available records from the past 10 years, according to Bilquis, who added that some records were destroyed by termites while others were damaged by rain.

The EWO has been marrying off orphan girls and facilitating adoptions for several decades, said Bilquis, adding that over 400 girls have been married and thousands of newborn babies adopted.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2020.