Minorities demand govt to pass Forced Conversion Bill
Several people staged a protesting rally outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday, demanding the government to pass the 'Forced Conversion Bill' immediately.
The charged participants from the Christian community also demanded the state to treat all the minority people as equal citizens according to the Constitution of Pakistan.
The participants said that their young girls were being forcibly converted and married to Muslim men without the consent of their parents.
Carrying placards in their hands, women, men and children reached the KPC in small groups, chanting slogans against the atrocities they have been facing in different parts of the country.
"We do not accept forced conversion," said Saleem Rajput. "We are being pressured," he added. Rajput said that the rejection of the bill on forced conversion was a serious issue. "The state doesn't think it [forced conversion] an issue," he added. Speaking to the rally, Zahid Farooq said that: "this is a serious matter. This is a social injustice. We condemn forced marriage and forced conversion."
Read More: No 'evidence' of forced conversion to Islam in Pakistan, claims study
He said that all the minorities living across Pakistan were proud Pakistanis. "But we are not being treated as true and patriotic Pakistanis," he said.
The participants raised their hands praying justice for their young daughters who have been forcibly converted.
Jamal Rajput said, "we voted in favour of the creation of Pakistan but we are not safe here," he said. "We are not against the Muslims. We respect everyone and want to be respected," he maintained.
Dr Jaipal Chhabria said that: "we are as much patriotic Pakistanis as much as Quaid-i-Azam was." He said that neither Hindus nor Christians were being given their due rights.
"Our women are not safe here," Dr Chhabria said. "We demand their protection. We demand their due rights. We demand our rights." Noel Ejaz, the organizer of the protest, said that all political parties and social activists were assembled and demanding the government to pass the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2021.