HYDERABAD:
The grudges and gratitude for the government found an outlet as the president’s special committee on minorities met the Hindu community representatives on Monday.
Some showered praise on the government’s swift reaction to placate the smouldering anger of the community while others gave vent to their feelings, as federal minister Maula Bux Chandio and Senator Hari Ram Kishori Lal called on the representatives of Hindu Panchayat and Young Hindu Association at the residence of social activist Zulfiqar Halepoto.
Many believed, however, that no long-term solutions will emerge from the exercise initiated on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari to mollify the community’s ruffled feathers.
“If the government fails us this time we will join the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM),” warned Dr Chandi Ram Shahani, the district president of Hindu Panchayat. “The MQM’s stance over the minority rights is unequivocal and supportive.”
The enactment of the Hindu marriage act, separate electorate, steps to stop forced conversions, implementation of job quota, regulating the elections of panchayats and curbing crimes against minorities topped the complaints.
The federal minister noted that the sense of insecurity and deprivation is obvious in the Hindus. “The immediate legislation of laws and executive measures are indispensable to allay their woes,” he said. “In our interaction with the community in Jacobabad and Sukkur among other places, the matter of ‘honour’ [Hindu girls marrying Muslim men and converting to Islam] dominated other problems.”
The committee will present its recommendations to the president in a few days and expressed the hope of their implementation especially the ones pertaining to legislation.
Responding to the demand of resignations by minority legislators, Chandio acknowledged that the minority felt disconnected with their elected representatives, but stopped short of giving a word.
Citing figures from the Federal Investigation Agency, the minister refuted the claims of a Hindu exodus from the country. In 2011, 7,000 Hindu pilgrims went to India of whom 5,600 returned immediately while the others returned over a period of time, he said.
It came as a relief to the committee when the people at the meeting said that the Hindus in southern Sindh do not face the problems of crime and conversions as their community members do in Larkana and Sukkur divisions – who still have their own issues.
Meeting
A majority of the participants demanded separate electorates for the minorities. “Non-Muslim Pakistanis should be allowed to elect among themselves their representatives for the assemblies,” said Jay Ram Dhirani, the president of Young Hindu Panchayat.
A constitutional expert, Advocate Jhamat Mal, objected to the suggestion however. “This will be against the values of democracy,’’ he said. “The minorities will lose their right to vote in the general elections if they opt for a separate electorate. We should, on the contrary, struggle to get into the mainstream instead of ostracising ourselves [electorally].”
Mal advised the community to prepare coherent recommendations which safeguard their interests but at the same time assimilate them with the majority.
On the issue of conversion of Hindu girls, the community members criticised the process of sending the women to Darul Aman while the courts heard their cases. They proposed setting up shelter houses supervised by the minority for their interim accommodation.
The community also acknowledged their internecine differences, especially their divided panchayats, which are though registered under the Cooperative Society Act but do not hold regular elections.
“We have at least two or more panchayats in every district instead of one,” said Chandu Mal, a retired bureaucrat. He underscored the need to replace the panchayats with a council which annually holds elections from the centre to the district level. “The problem lies within us because we are represented by unelected representatives in the government as well as in our panchayats,” he believed.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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Congratulations MQM something to be proud of and Brove to to Hindu community of Pakistan who dared to speak the truth, MQM is a thorn to many just because it speaks the truth and is the party of the oppressed and downtrodden. So. MQM keep up the good work i think the day not too far away when the masses of this country would know that MQM is answer to their problems.
A proud moment for MQM - nuff said!
The only hope MQM.............
@javed ali sangi: your law is not valid in your nations' street. thats why they want favor because minority needs extra support. if you dont know the plight of hindu community specially after tribune posting so many stories over the forced conversion and biased judiciary and structure of pakistan you are in deep sea of ignorance
Simple. Practice the teachings of Jinnah.
No one in Pakistan has realized the seriousness of the situation. Have they ? These >200 families of Hindus who have migrated to India shall give tons of evidences and an international tribunal shall be formed to investigate, with or without the help of Pakistan. All prior cases of raped conversions shall come to light.
Had the SC handled Rinkle's case properly, the situation may have been contained. They did not do and Maya Khan the infuriated many outside Pakistan, both Muslims and Non- Muslims.
The exodus of Hindus has started and the Pakistan government's detaining and trying to stop them and taking written assurances from them to return to Pakistan has made things worse for Pakistan. Now Indian government has openly declared that they shall grant asylum to these Hindus and Pakistan can do nothing to stop the Hindus from leaving Pakistan.
This issue of conversion has nothing to do with Islam in general. It is all about the prevailing perverse culture in Pakistan. If you need proof just look at the pathetic comment from Pakistanis like "@javed ali sangi" above sho comments that Hindus in Pakistan are not competent to hold their own daughter and sister. Yes, hold the woman ....... Such is the prevailing culture and thinking in Pakistan.
Long Live Altaf Hussain, Altaf Hussain and MQM is the hope for the deprived..
So they Believe Zardari Cares.... Hahaha
do not make religious matter politicies. under article 25 constitiution of pakistan 1973 every citizen of pakistan is equl in the eyes of law, why our hindu brother wants favour, whether they are not competant to hold their own daughter and sister.; love marriage is common for all and it is right of the man and woman, it is doesnt matter, who belongs form which religion. it is also settled law that every man and woman joint any other religion by his or her choise
Remarkable comments indeed recognizing the clear stance of the MQM for the rights of the different religious minorities living in Pakistan. I believe that the MQM is the only party in the country that always takes a strong position for the religious minorities who are frequently persecuted in our country on one pretext or another bringing a bad name for the country internationally.
I hope that other political parties in the country would also come forward and speak openly for the rights of the minorities. I believe it is our duty as true Muslims to look after the non-Muslims living in Pakistan in every possible manner.
“The MQM’s stance over the minority rights is unequivocal and supportive.” By its nature MQM is the only party of Pakistan that belongs to common man, otherwise every other party a a upper tier of Leadership that moulds the party policies just to gain popularity or votes. Not only the credit of eradicating Shia Sunni conflict from Karachi goes to MQM, but its continuous efforts for the rights of minorities of Pakistan is worth noting. In my opinion PPP and other parties are showing their concerns for the Hindus of Jaccobabad just for time being as the matter was highlighted so much by our media, other wise no one care about them
MQM policies, seems to be liberal, tolerant, balanced and ever lasting. There is a sense of brotherhood.
ah, i thought MQM was in government!
There is no doubt, Hindus should join MQM for their survival. heard about Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto saying when Hindus asked him to liberalize Medical quota in Sindh Universities he said that "You people will run to India after become Doctors why should we waste money on u".
@Ash: You are very true. MQM and its leaders only have the courage to speak about the rights and liberties of minorities. We all pray to Almighty it gets to power at national level with sufficient majority to ensure all the freedom and comfort to minorities of Paksistan.
@Parvez:
Oh...so PPP of Bhutto was more enlightened than PPP of Zardari. Who enacted the anti-Ahmedi laws in the very first place???
MQM is the only party that does (whatever is there in its capacity) to come across as a genuinely secular party. It propagates of eliminating the term 'minorities' itself from the constitution. It fired Aamir Liuaqat after his anti-Ahmedi comments. They dont have any power to change the constitution like other parties. Neither they have been party to introducing any discriminatory laws.
People criticizing them on the basis of law & order should get a life. Even if we completely blame them for law & order in Karachi, what about Hyderabad...why is it calmer like other cities of country??? Karachi's problem is complex...dont criticize just for the sake of it. Arent you tired of electing feudal and their progeny on fake degrees. Says enough of your caliber.
This is not the PPP of Bhutto, its Zardari's PPP and most probably don't care what you do.
Religion no doubt has always been misused in Pakistan to serve purposes, the main reason my view that the Islamic teachings are in Arabic and unless some one takes the pain to read and understand translations, he has to agree to whatever the Cleric is saying.
I am not saying The Clerics are not educated or well meaning, no doubt we have excellent Islamic scholars in Pakistan, who explain the true sense of Islam. But this does not reach the masses often who follow what ever the Local Cleric is saying his interpretation.
So its a complex problem and one should first accept the issue and then try addressing it which is very huge task because of so many contradictions in the society sometime one is not willing to speak his mind.
Islamic teaching is very progressive, free from bigotry and any discrimination what ever wrong is there is because of our failings to understand the spirit.
The only party who has spoken non-stop and on every forum for minorities is ONLY MQM and they have been doing it for years! Don't forget these minority groups make a huge part in MQM and they rightly believe that MQM is the only Liberal party in Pakistan who talks about equal rights for every Pakistani regardless of color, religion, race, language....I still remember that interview of Altaf Hussain where he said that it is his biggest desire to reserve a big ground as a worship place for every sect, religion so that there will be a mosque, a temple, a church...all in the same ground where people can go and perform their namaz, pooja whatever without any fear! No leader in Pakistan can even dare to dream like this let alone saying it in Public.
@Umer: You can't maintain law and order by trolling on Facebook. As complex as the situation of Karachi is, PTI can't even run the government for half a day.
Stupid decision ! 1st) MQM is part of government 2nd) MQM has failed to bring peace in Karachi (its stronghold), howcome our hindu brothers expect them to bring peace or help them in other matters...
PTI is the only solution, as it is the only party which is unbaised and holds law above all.
Isn't MQM also part of the coalition government?
It is good to have fresh Air.... Alway :)
Is there one Islamic country in the world today that proliferates and practices such pedophiliac acts to propagate religion. Such acts do not happen even in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, any Arab Country, Indonesia, Malaysia or even Sudan and Nigeria. Pakistan is the only country that has constitutional mandate, judicial protection, and wide support and encouragement for such acts even in its educated community. Media glorifies such acts and even political parties even that represent youth and headed by UK educated leader support such acts by their conspicuous silence. Most Islamic countries consider Pakistan as an outcast that has brought so much bad name to Islam. Even Idi Amin did not stoop so low. The day is not far when OIC, in an effort to redeem its old glory shall throw out Pakistan from the group. Allah should be in the heart and mind and don't try to find hem elsewhere.
I salute ET for its great service by bringing to light this perverse culture that is so much wide spread, prevailing and thriving in almost the entire Pakistan society. We see support for this culture in many of the comments from Pakistani readers who either deny it or justify and praise it in the name of religion or bring irrelevant issues of Gujrat and Assam that has nothing to do with raped conversion.
Jiye Altaf Hussain!! True liberal leader!!