The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the state to provide protective custody to the two teenage Hindu girls who were allegedly abducted, forced to convert and marry Muslim men.

The two Hindu girls named Reena and Raveena, aged 14 and 16, along with their spouses had appealed the IHC to grant them protection from their families. In their petition, the girls said that they had converted to Islam of their own free will and should be given protection.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the case was sensitive as it was the matter of Pakistan’s image. The judge continued that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had also spoken about the rights of minorities, local media reported.

Judge Minallah ordered that the girls be taken under protective custody by the federal government. The girls were then handed over to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat.

The court has also ruled that girls cannot be taken to Sindh till their case is being heard. The high court has adjourned the hearing till April 2.

Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier took notice of the incident of the abduction, after which he ordered the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab to carry out an investigation.