Report: Nearly 630 Pakistan women being a sex slave to Chinese men
Women and girls across Pakistan living in a ‘fear’ when nearly 630 of them were reported been sold as brides to Chinese men last year.
The list, which was obtained by the Associated Press, highlighting the lucrative and widespread human trafficking networks exploiting the country’s poor and vulnerable.
It also reported that 629 girls and women were caught up in trafficking schemes and taken to China in 2018 and into early 2019.
One of the senior officials said it was believed all 629 were sold to grooms by their families, according to the report.
‘House passes Uighur human rights bill to sanction Chinese officials’
However, it was not clear how many women and girls were trafficked but according to the sources “the lucrative trade continues”.
“The Chinese and Pakistani brokers make between 4 million and 10 million rupees ($25,000 and $65,000) from the groom, but only about 200,000 rupees ($1,500), is given to the family,” he told the Associated Press.
Besides being physical and sexual abuse, the women who spoke to investigators also told they are being forced fertility treatments and in some worst cases, they were forced into prostitution.
Even though no evidence emerged, at least one investigation report contains allegations of organs being harvested from some of the women sent to China.
In September, one report on “fake Chinese marriage cases” was sent by Pakistan’s investigation agency to prime minister Imran Khan which provided the details of cases registered against 52 Chinese nationals and 20 of their Pakistani associates in two cities in eastern Punjab province Faisalabad, Lahore as well as in the capital Islamabad. The Chinese suspects included the 31 later acquitted in court.
The report said police discovered two illegal marriage bureaus in Lahore, including one operated from an Islamic center and madrassa the first known report of poor Muslims also being targeted by brokers. The Muslim cleric involved fled police.
There are other cases before the courts involving arrested Pakistani and at least another 21 Chinese suspects, according to the report sent to the prime minister in September. But the Chinese defendants in the cases were all granted bail and left the country, say activists and a court official.
China’s Foreign Ministry told the Associated Press on Monday that it was unaware of the list.
“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 behavior,” the ministry said in a statement faxed Monday to AP’s Beijing bureau.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
