AP Exclusive: 629 Pakistani girls sold as brides to China

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A government list shows 629 Pakistani girls from across the country have been sold as brides to China, most between 2018 and early 2019.

The list — obtained by The Associated Press — was compiled by Pakistani investigators determined to break up trafficking networks.

But in recent months, their aggressive drive has ground to a halt, and officials with knowledge of the investigations say that is because of pressure from the Pakistani government fearful of hurting ties with China.

But the biggest case against traffickers has fallen apart.

In October, a court in Faisalabad acquitted 31 Chinese nationals charged in connection with trafficking. Several of the women who had initially been interviewed by police refused to testify because they were either threatened or bribed into silence.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Related topics