In Pak, minorities have to struggle due to religious discrimination
The Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN) and thePakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) have expressed serious concerns over growinginsecurity among the Hindu population in Sindh, which is causing migration ofhundreds of families from Sindh and Balochistan to India since many years.
In a joint statement, the PDSN representative Zulfiqar Shah,and General Secretary of PPC B. M. Kutty said both the federal and theprovincial governments have failed to protect the lives, dignity and propertiesof the Hindu community and other vulnerable groups, which is creating unrestamong a larger section of the population. The kidnapping for ransom, abductionand conversion of Hindu girls; growing lawlessness; forced encroachment ofHindus families properties; and growing violence against minorities in ruralSindh districts of Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur and Kandhkot have become aneveryday story now.
“We consider the ongoing development as highlyunsatisfactory and a cause of great concern for all the citizens. According tothe Constitution and international laws, it is the responsibility of the Stateto protect lives and properties of all citizens without any discrimination.Unfortunately, the vulnerable religious groups face tougher social, religiousand economic challenges to the extent that they feel that leaving the countryis the only option to save their lives,” the joint statement stated.
In Pakistan, religious minorities especially Hindus have tostruggle with discrimination on religious basis while they face socialexclusion and unabated violence in rural areas where feudal power elite exploitthem socially, economically and politically. These feudal elites harass themand also encroach upon their properties.
Another powerful religious group which has the backing ofpolitical parties is busy in forcible conversation of Hindu girls after kidnappingthem. These girls are forced to embrace Islam or she is threatened with direconsequences. Recent incidents of Rinkal Kumari, Dr. Asha and Manesha Kumariare some incidents of forcible conversion of Hindu girls. The families of theseunfortunate girls are either considering leaving the country or move from theirancestor villages to other cities.
The PDSN and the PPC pointed out that local media has beenreporting Hindu citizens’ migration to India for security reasons for the lastmany years but the state functionaries did not pay any heed to address thesituation. The recent national media reports of the migration of Hindu familiesfrom Jacobabad, in large numbers, has suddenly caught the attention of thestate machinery that is spending more energies on covering the issue thanaddressing it.
The FIA, under the directives of the Interior Minister,reportedly forcibly stopped over 150 Hindus at the Wagah border in Lahore. Theywere coerced to sign an affidavit committing a return to Pakistan.
These types of pressurizing tactics are not only a violationof the right to free movement of citizens, they will never help the exodus ofthe Hindu Community that receives little support from the state in terms ofsecurity and wellbeing. The PDSN and the PPC called for serious measures toaddress the grievances of the Hindu community and all the non-Muslim members ofthe state.
