In a fervent display of frustration and concern, residents of Hunza have taken to the streets demanding justice for the abduction of 13-year-old Falak Noor while she was on her way to a nearby community centre for religious education in Sultanabad, Gilgit. The disappearance of Falak Noor, shrouded in mystery for the past two months, has ignited a wave of outrage and apprehension within the Pakistan occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB).
Despite the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) and the provision of vital information regarding the kidnappers, authorities have yet to locate any trace of the missing girl. Gilgit, a city under tight security with numerous checkpoints and a strong presence of law enforcement agencies, has witnessed a startling failure in the efforts to recover Falak Noor.
Expressing their discontent, the parents of the abducted girl, hailing from Dinur, had earlier voiced their lack of confidence in the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayaz and other law enforcement personnel. They have appealed to the puppet Chief Minister and Inspector General of Pak-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan to entrust the case to a diligent and honest officer.
Falak Noor forcibly married
However, a video purportedly featuring Falak Noor that surfaced a couple of days ago has raised suspicion of a coerced marriage as Falak was seen in the video claiming to have willingly married a man of her choice. However, she is a minor and seems to have been forced to speak on camera, with her parents alleging the involvement of influential figures in her abduction. Despite the presence of CCTV footage capturing the vehicle used in the abduction, authorities have failed to take decisive action.
Nevertheless, another incident involving the discovery of the body of 18-year-old Inara, who was abducted months ago, found by the riverside in Gilgit has further exacerbated the misery of the region. The unsettling incidents have galvanized the people of the Gilgit Baltistan Youth Alliance Karachi, prompting them to organize a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on March 31st. The demonstration aims to draw attention to the plight of Falak Noor and demand justice for Inara, amplifying the call for swift action and accountability in addressing such heinous crimes.