Harsh struggle for Hindu minority in Pakistan

Author : Anonymous

Talking about minority; Hindus come first to our minds because of their larger number in all of the minorities in existence in Pakistan. Patriotic Hindus who preferred to live in Pakistan during partition instead of migrating to India are now in great threat to practice their beliefs in our ‘land of pure’ and so does minorities belonging to different beliefs.

Feudalism, class system, religious discrimination, forced conversion and marriages and poor law and order situation of Pakistan has taken their right to breathe. Around 7,000 to 10,000 Pakistani Hindus (around 1,600 families) had migrated to India in the last two years; a report by English daily reveals this. And only in last four months, around 450 families comprising of more than 3,000 members have migrated to India following conversion cases of one after another Hindu girl in Sindh, report further states.

Statistics tells us that around 3.2 million Hindus are living in Sindh, seven million are settled in Punjab, Around 30,000 to 50,000 are living in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other northern areas of the country. A large majority of Hindu population belongs to the working class, has poor agricultural background and is not financially stable.

Hindu communities settled in interior Sindh, southern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan voiced their concern to English daily that lower class Hindu communities are being subject to constant oppression and discrimination by lower class Muslim citizens. They said courts were their last hope but this door was closed for them after Rinkal Kumari case. “So there is now no option for us but to leave our beloved country where no one is protecting us and our girls from forced conversion.”

Ties between Pakistan and India are proving to be disastrous for Hindus migrating as they are not being welcomed open heartedly by Indian government and are considered as ‘spy’ for Pakistan.

Despite of serious concerns shown by Pakistani government, political parties and human rights organizations over the issue of migrating Hindus, unfortunately no concrete step has been taken to provide relief to Hindu communities living in Pakistan.

Situation is not just limited to oppression or forced conversions in interior parts of the country but in a city like Karachi, Hindu temples are being demolished unlawfully. Shri Rama Pir Mandir in city’s Soldier Bazaar was demolished, Hindu religious symbols were desecrated and Hindu worshippers were verbally abused during the demolition. 

While the Sindh High Court was hearing a petition seeking a stay order in the demolition, the builders razed the temple.