VERONA – A young Pakistani resident of Verona, who was forced to have an abortion by her family, has been freed in a police blitz, officials say.

 The 19-year-old was found in the Islamabad area of Pakistan, thanks to an intervention by the Pakistani police force.

 She is now safe and being looked after by representatives of the Italian authorities, Verona investigative sources confirm.

 The young girl was found after she managed to send a message to her Pakistani-Italian boyfriend on Thursday, as well as a voicenote to her classmate via WhatsApp, saying how her family had tied her up for eight hours before making her have an abortion.

 Her boyfriend, who also resides in Verona, was the father of the aborted child.

 The Foreign Ministry intervened and asked the Italian embassy in Islamabad to urgently verify these claims with local authorities.

 With regard to the matter, delegates of the Foreign Ministry said: “Italy strongly defends in all circumstances the respect of human rights and freedom, as well as fundamental rights based on the equality of men and women.”

 This event is a painful reminder of what happened to 25-year-old Sana Cheema from Brescia, who was killed in Pakistan by her father and brother for refusing to an arranged marriage.

 It's also something worth reflecting on ahead of Saturday's anti-abortion "March for Life", which will take place at 2.30 p.m. in Piazza della Repubblica.