The religious minorities of Pakistan have always been left forsaken by the administration of Pakistan at times of predicament. The minorities especially young non-Muslim girls became the prey of influential and mighty thugs and are coerced to spend their entire lives with their predators through kidnapping and forced marriages.
Concerning forced conversions, it is estimated by the Human Rights Commission Of Pakistan that every year there is a ratio of “one thousand” newly converted Muslim girls. Most of the times the girls are minor and belong to the religion of Hinduism and Christianity. There are a number of incidents that quote the heart-sinking occurrence encountered by the discriminated group.
In a recent conversation with the parents of an abducted girl named Simran Kumari, who lived in the city of Mirpur Matheli in Sindh’s Northern Ghotki district, during an interview, the parents of the captured girl expressed their despairing regards on reclaiming their daughter. They consider that they are not able to retrieve their daughter as the girl herself threatened to file an FIR against them if they tried to interfere in any matter regarding her conversion. This is because the minor girl is spooked by her potent and heavy “spouse” whose slaying threats has become a serious matter of concern for her life.
It is a hard reality that the minorities have to live with. Thousands of girls are left at the hands of the callous justice system of Pakistan.
In connection with this matter, the Government of Sindh made several attempts with the aim of providing defence to minorities by proposing “The Protection Of Minorities Bill”. However, the bill was doomed to fail as the religious councils have not sanctioned the following bill.
These melancholy circumstances lead to the conclusion that the Government of Pakistan must ascertain its responsibilities and obligations of providing ammunition to every citizen without considering the disparity of anyone’s religious identity. Otherwise, it may be regarded as certain that the country’s policies considering minorities would prove to be catastrophic in terms of providing a shield to every non-Muslim citizen
MEHAK HAMMAD
Hyderabad
