Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Pitanber Sewani appeared agitated when he reminded the government and its institutions not to force Hindus in Sindh to follow the path of Baloch nationalists who are waging “a war for their rights”.
Moving a resolution against post-marriage conversion of Hindu girls, Pitanber Sewani wanted the government to frame a law against the forced marriages.
During his fiery speech, he said that young Hindu girls are being kidnapped and converted to Islam after they are subjected to forced marriage with Muslim boys. He said that this practice has created resentment among the minority communities living in Sindh.
Referring to a recent incident in Mirpur Mathelo where a Hindu girl Rinki Kumari, 16, was allegedly kidnapped by a Muslim boy Naveed Shah, Sewani said: “These people kidnapped her at gunpoint a few days ago and presented her in a lower court after her marriage with Naveed Shah. We have no objection if a Hindu girl marries a Muslim boy of her free will. But Hindus will not tolerate forced marriages.”
He said he feared that a situation is being created which may force Hindus to leave Sindh, but, “they would prefer to die rather than migrate”.
In his resolution he requested the Sindh Assembly to approach the federal and provincial governments to make a law in order to stop “post-marriage conversions” of minorities in Sindh.
“Around 20 to 25 forced conversions take place every month in Sindh. If this situation continues, the Hindus will have no choice, but to resist,” he said. “Today we are fed up with the Baloch resistance movement, tomorrow we may be irritated by the Hindus as well.” He added that after the forced marriage some people have threatened her parents with dire consequences.
Later, talking to the media Sewani demanded the chief justice take sou motu action. “We are seeking the intervention of the chief justice on forced marriages as well as the frequent killings and kidnapping of Hindus in Sindh,” he remarked.
PPP parliamentary leader Pir Mazharul Haq said that a law already existed on forced marriages and he suggested to the Speaker to refer the resolution to the law department so it could to review its contents.
Bachal Shah, also of the PPP, said that there was nothing wrong if a Hindu girl married a Muslim boy without any pressure. “The Indian newspapers are full with reports everyday of Muslim girls entering into wedlock with Hindu boys,” Shah said while referring to the marriage of Suzanne Khan, the daughter of India film actor Feroz Khan with Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan.
Many other MPAs, including Marvi Rashdi of the PML-F, Saleem Khurshid Khokhar, Farheen Mughul and Humera Alwani of the PPP, spoke in support of free-will marriage and condemned forced ones.
However, MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmed said the content of the resolution was not clear, as it did not specify the religion of women being forced to convert to Islam.
Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro quoted Articles 20 and 36 of the Constitution to say that there was a law on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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Dear friends, we for going for token hunger strike on 08.03.2012 at press club karachi. from 1.30 to 4 pm....if anyone wants to join,,we will be pleased to see your support.
Tell that fool Bhachal Shah that There is Difference b/w marriage and Forced marriage. And in India,even after marriage,Sussain Khan is still Sussain khan and following her religion freely in the house of his Hindu in-laws.Same way,Wife of Arbaj khan(Salman khan's Brother) Malaika Arora is still Malaika Arora and following Hinduism in house of his Muslim in-laws.It's INDIA. All Pakis,Pls tell ur leaders that Before Bringing India in any Context,try to know the real facts.
What is wrong this part of the world? I don't understand it.
If your own government can not safe guard your rights and freedoms; especially after repeated petitions to redress valid grievances, then secession IS the answer!
Pakistan did it in 1947, Bangladesh did it in 1971, and hey, Baloch people are getting irritated enough to call it quits from the rest of Pakistan. There are somethings that are not driven by choice but are driven by necessity in order to safe guard their future. It is no one's fault but of the government that is sworn to protect its' own citizenry. When the government fails, as it clearly has, than it is time for a change.
@kamran there are more people in pak of arab ancestory than the minorities, the answer who should prefer leave is obvious.
Yes, we feel our hearts with the exploited, and yes not all fingers are alike, and I think this is what Pakistani majority think. If he did it he did it wrong .. on any ground its is a crime.. religious or humanitatrian both grounds ... He should be condenmed and be punished... the voters have all right to pressurize their Minorities MPA (one being close to govt) to followup for early dispensation of justice..... but this is one thing... simultaneoulsy arguements shouldnt be in threat making tone like : he reminded the government and its institutions not to force Hindus in Sindh to follow the path of Baloch nationalists who are waging “a war for their rights”... You see if this is right way to plead a case in front of authorities, then the minorities leader better start with challenging the Indian govt on ever heralding genocide of minorities in their lands.. specially Muslims.. Leaders like him who feel like “a war for their rights” .. first warn Indians not to bring shame on faces of our hindu brothers & sisters in Pakistan by doing all type of crime and masscre of minorities in a Hindu Dominant State ..
Here, I think my friends from all religion would agree that .. these type of incidents should be tackled on root cause.. but never to foster the idea that it has somehing to do with any religion.. .. because this is shear aftermath of Wadaira Shahi where ever it exists.. be in Pakistan or India.. Wadairas & their affiliates are always inclined to exploit the weaker... they simply donot care about religion or cast ... just mean to fulfil their carnale wishes.. by hooks or by crooks.. Some people do try to link it with religion or anything which help them emotionalize the feelings of there innocent followers..
@Anon: i wish ET had included the comment i had replied earlier you would have got the answer, people with arab ancestry should leave Pakistan, hope u get my point.
@aftab: the issue was the guns and threated by the local mna..the will kil their whole family.. and listen how u will fell when 800gun man will come infornt of you and they pressurize u.. why the local fell fell to take 800 gun man with him self... see the clips who has the guns
@Err: If the state cannot guarntee rights, then sucession is the answer, why did the Muslims ask form seperation from Hindu India my friend, it was so that they could get their rights.
It is official that young Hindu girls are kidnapped, forced into a marriage and forcibly converted to Islam. How pathetic....................
@kamran if pakistan is that bad than you should immigrate to a country that is more safe for you, instead of calling for its breakup. you have no right to instigate such measures, considering that you such a tiny minority in this country already and you have nothing to with the baloch problem in the first place. it seems like a vengeful move on the guys part.
@kamran NOTHING and I mean NOTHNG, justifies calling for a secession of a state with the help of another because that is called treason. Do you think things will be better for you in Baluchistan where even Hazaras (which are larger than you in minorties) are being targeted by the BLF?? It's an extremely regrettable move by Mr Bhatti and I think people of this minortiy should repudiate his actions and condemn it, otherwise you do realise that such irresponsible statements only further risk the lives of the minority in other parts of the country.
@HARDtalk: Probably not, and there are two reasons for it. First, if a Muslim girl converts to Hinduism, she will most likely be killed by her own family or society in general. Nobody will marry a dead body. Second, Hindus in Pakistan do not have the curse of religious fanaticism hanging over their heads in the form of religious cults who would brainwash a Hindu boy to become an accomplice in conspiracy to commit a kidnapping and forced conversation and marriage. Having said that, if two people are in love and want to get married to each other, they should be able to do that. If their religions are different, neither one of them should be under any pressure to change his/her religion, unless he/she really wants to. Of course, this basic rule of decency would elude those Pakistani Muslims who have allowed themselves to be possessed by the demons of fanaticism and intolerance. Unfortunately, this number is increasing. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Bring all Hindus to India,problem solved.There's a huge Sindhi diaspora in Mumbai and Gujarat and we all seem to be doing well.Dont expect any justice from these Radical Islamists,no wonder entire world is sick and tired of them.
@Err: Push us to the wall , kill us on forced charges of blasphemy do incidences like Gojra and than u expect us to be loyal. we need external help to save ourself. our christian leaders voted for the division of Punjab, today i say they were wrong, cz had there been 40 % non-muslims in Punjab no terrorist organisation could have dared to kill us.
@John B: there are forced marriage and forced conversion of christians too in pakistan - all minorities in pakistan better get smart and start standing up as a united front.
@ gp65
if a Hindu Boy marrys a Muslim Girl he will be wajbul qatal which means he will be hanged.
@ Aftab,
I was present outside the court during the hearing, rinki parents were not allowed to enter the court room and meet the girl while the kidnappers with hundreds Armed persons were present inside the court as well as outside the court, can you please justify if it was not forced conversion then why hundreds of muslims were present with weapons like AK 47 while none of the Hindu outside the court had any weapon. i can show you the pics. I'd Like to bring your attention on Saturday's hearing when girl had told the court that she is kidnapped and doesn't want to convert, the court without any reason adjourned the hearing till monday. I know all this because i know this girl very well and i belong from the same city.
Yes minority rights need to be respected but minority themselves also should avoid being inciteful. Can someone tell me why Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Chrisitan Congress is openly and widely advocating seccession of Baluchistan and lobbying the anti-pak elements in US Congres?? http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/headlinenewsd.php?hnewsid=3348 There are alot of patriotic Christians in Pak, but people like him dont do any service to the minority by participating in such activities.
there is no issue if Hindu Gril accept Islam and marriage with Muslim boy. if the Rinki Kumari Marriage was a forced marriage with Naveed Shah than she should told about that in course when she was doing marriage with Naveed Shah. What was the pressure on Rinki Kumari at court
@Realist's musings: "Kindly remind this Hindu MPA that ‘Pakistan Islam k naam pe azad kia gaya tha.” Kthnx."
Are you actually justifying kidnapping and forcible conversion? It appears that you are saying that this is justified in the name of Islam? Really?
@ Realist's musings Islam also teaches to Muslims about Justice, free to practice of faith to non Muslims. Forced marriages are not much liked in Islam too.
Kindly remind this Hindu MPA that 'Pakistan Islam k naam pe azad kia gaya tha." Kthnx.
There are forced marriages or kidnapping of Hindu women in PAK.