Lawmaker submits recommendations on legislation for forced conversions

Illiteracy, poverty explain forced conversions and marriages, says Saleem Khokhar.

KARACHI: Despite receiving death threats from unidentified people, the provincial assembly’s top minority representative, Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, is adamant that he will continue to work to address the principle issues that face religious minorities, including forced conversions and marriages.

At a press conference on Thursday, Khokhar said that he had already submitted his input to the government, in the form of an ‘amended draft act to stop forced conversion of religion in Pakistan’.

Ignorance, illiteracy and poverty are why forced conversions and marriages are taking place in the country, said the lawmaker. “Hindu and Christian girls have been kidnapped and then converted across the country, before being forced into marriages.”

Khokhar suggested that an FIR should be registered the moment someone reports that a Hindu or Christian girl had been kidnapped, and also that a judicial officer, instead of a policeman, should be put in charge of conducting an investigation under section 202 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

In case the girl is located, she should be sent to the provincial safe house, instead of the Darul Aman. If it turns out that the girl has changed her religion, then the court should send her to the safe house for 21 days so that she can rethink her decision without being pressured from the outside. Law enforcement agencies also need to stay vigilant, stressed the minority representative.

Security concerns

Khokhar repeatedly pointed out that he was not provided proper security by the government, despite directives by Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He added that federal minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti and former Sindh Assembly member Malik Mohammad Atta were both shot dead when they talked about the rights of minorities.