Bride-trafficking inquiry halted ‘to appease Beijing’

Pakistan accused of putting trade before abuse of women as smuggling investigations flounder

AN INQUIRY into the sale of Pakistani brides to Chinese men has reportedly been halted due to government reluctance to harm lucrative ties with Beijing.

The people-smuggling investigation, which involved 629 victims, appears to have been sidelined amid accusations that witnesses had been threatened or bribed to keep quiet while Islamabad moves to cement business ties with its ally.

The biggest legal case against the traffickers has already fallen apart, with a court in Faisalabad acquitting 31 Chinese nationals in October due to a lack of evidence.

Saleem Iqbal, a Christian activist who has helped parents rescue several girls from China, said the government had put “immense pressure” on detectives to drop the cases.

“Some [Federal Investigation Agency officials] were even transferred,” Mr Iqbal said.

“No one is doing anything to help these girls,” said one official who did not want to be named.

“The whole racket is continuing, and it is growing. Why? Because they know they can get away with it. The authorities won’t follow through, everyone is being pressured not to investigate.”

Allegations of bride-trafficking rings made headlines in Pakistan earlier this year when police arrested Chinese and Pakistani men accused of facilitating bogus marriages.

But the media has since dropped the story after reportedly coming under pressure not to rock the boat.

Many of the women involved come from Pakistan’s impoverished and marginalised Christian community which seems to be targeted by marriage brokers. Christian ministers have also been accused of helping the brokers find suitable brides. Once the women are overseas some find themselves isolated and mistreated and desperate to return home.

There have also been allegations that some have been sold into prostitution.

A statement from China’s Foreign ministry said it was unaware of the list of victims.

A spokesman said: “The two governments of China and Pakistan support the formation of happy families between their people on a voluntary basis in keeping with laws and regulations, while at the same time having zero tolerance for and resolutely fighting against any person engaging in illegal cross-border marriage behaviour.”

China’s former one-child policy created a lucrative demand for foreign brides, according to rights groups. Parents’ preference for boys during the 34 years the policy was enforced led to the abortion of millions of girls and there are now about 34 million more males than females in China, leaving some men with dire marriage prospects.

Pakistan’s authorities have yet to comment.