The Punjab Police informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that around 80 percent of women and girls recovered after being reported missing since 2021 had married of their own choice, leading to the cancellation of kidnapping cases against the alleged abductors.
The disclosure came during a hearing before Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on a petition seeking the recovery of a woman allegedly abducted in Kasur four years ago.
According to a report submitted by the police, 3,258 women and girls were reported missing across Punjab as of April 22, 2026. Authorities have recovered 1,405 of them, while 1,853 remain untraced.
Police officials told the court that from 2021 onward, a total of 105,244 cases involving missing women and girls were registered across the province. Of these, 103,351 cases were resolved through recoveries, while 1,847 cases remain pending.
DIG Investigation Shoaib Janbaz stated that nearly 80 percent of the recovered women and girls had contracted marriages of their own choice. He added that about 15 percent voluntarily returned to their families and recorded statements in support of their parents.
Chief Justice Neelum expressed concern over the large number of missing women who remain untraced and criticized the police for failing to achieve timely recoveries.
She rejected a request for an additional two months to recover the remaining missing persons and directed the authorities to submit a detailed progress report within 15 days.
The court adjourned the hearing until June 18.
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