After Sindh visit, ex-law official confirms Hindus migration
A former deputy attorney general has claimed that, faced with “grave danger”, Hindu families settled in Pakistan are immigrating to other countries.
Khurshid Khan made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday on his return from a five-day unofficial trip to rural Sindh, where 93 % of the country’s Hindu population lives.
During his fact-finding mission, the ex-attorney general met leaders of the Hindu community, victims of kidnapping, family members of ‘forced converts’, right activists and other officials.
He pointed out that the deteriorating law and order situation, extortion, land-gabbing and kidnapping of young non-Muslim girls and forced conversions were the main reasons for the migration of the Hindu community.
Khan’s claims come just days after a parliamentary committee constituted by President Asif Ali Zardari rejected claims of mass migration of minority communities from the country.
“The impression came after some 400-500 Hindu devotees left for India for a routine religious pilgrimage,” said one of the committee members.
On Tuesday, Khan also lashed out at Interior Minister Rehman Malik for making “false” statements regarding the 250 people, or 70 families, who recently migrated to India and other countries.
The interior minister had dismissed the reports of migrations terming them an international conspiracy aimed at defaming Pakistan.
“The minister had mishandled the whole issue,” Khan said.
Khan revealed that Dalits – low-caste Hindus – are living in miserable conditions and are often subjected to abuse and forced labour by landlords and other influential people.
“Ironically, the upper classes of Hindus who are prosperous, wealthy, and well-educated remain aloof to the suffering of the Dalits,” he said.
Since January, 108 Hindus, all belonging to the upper class, were kidnapped for ransom from Lakrana and Sukkur divisions alone, he claimed and regretted that police and administration officials are least interested in taking action against extortionists and kidnappers who apparently enjoy support of lawmakers.
Highlighting discrimination at the government level, Khan claimed that “there are 101 federal secretaries in the country, and not a single one of them is from religious minority.”
“Minorities were also ignored in their due share of 5% in getting federal jobs,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732184775-0/BeFunky-collage-(80)1732184775-0-165x106.webp "article")
1731933289-0/BeFunky-collage-(68)1731933289-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732179298-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(23)1732179298-0.jpg "ihc moved against pti s planned protest")
1732181665-0/Express-Tribune-(9)1732181665-0-270x192.webp "pakistan expresses deep regret as us vetoes unsc gaza ceasefire resolution")
1732178966-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(22)1732178966-0.jpg "passenger from dubai arrested with gold valuables worth millions at lahore airport")
1732178488-0/Express-Tribune-(7)1732178488-0-270x192.webp "govt to partially suspend internet mobile services ahead of pti protest")
The Hindus have the right to migrate if they choose. But not before the blood of these shameless Wahabi fundamentalist Paleetistanis is shed. We must protect our Sindhi Hindu brothers and stop the conspiracy of the establishment to suppress Sindhi's via forced conversion, illegal theft of Sindhu darya water, non-fulfillment of jobs' quota, lack of safety, merit, etc, etc. Pakistani's are brain-washed and not aware of their own history of Sufism. They have not read the Quran sharif because if they had they would know that it is their duty to protect minorities. Not to mention the fact that we were all Hindu or Buddhist before the Arab invaders attacked and force converted our ancestors. They wish to be Amreekan or Arab, although both of those races laugh at Pakistani slave labor that they use to progress. When will Sindhi's wake up and fight against these oppressors and their colonial masters!? I for one am willing to give my life in the fight to protect my Hindu Sindhi brothers.
It's a conspiracy!!!! There are no aliens on mars!!!
Guys I think this Zaid Hamid guy is being sarcastic. I mean get real. Who in their right would fall for a middle aged mulla with a stinking beard?
@Zaid Hamid: People like you make me ashamed.
@Muhammad Suleman: Most Pakistanis regardless of ethnicity, caste or creed are miserable and do not have any option to migrate. Let us struggle together to make things better here. Best wishes.
Weaker sections of society are leaving the country under fear, it is a sign of a country heading towards a deadly civil war.
Pak is continusly growing as an extremist country while our leaders n civil society is completely sleeping.. Shias, ahmadis r brutally murdered every day.. so what to think about minority.. other then majority sunnis... every body is killing not by body but also by soul due to propogation of extremist thoughts..
@Zaid HamidYou are one of the reasons why I visit ET website...ur satire puts a smile on my face...God Bless You always:..regards from India
@RKM: @p r sharma: @Atheist: "@Zaid Hamid: Why do you even exist?" I, for one, am glad he exists. He brings welcome levity to the table. Not all of us are capable of that. Love him as you would a cartoonist. Folks, this guy is known for sarcasm. Keep that in mind and lighten up!
Sindhi Hindoos have option to migrate some where but miserable Baloch and Sindhi Muslims have no option to migrate from Pakistan.
Hindus and all minorities should be given full protection. But the Government is weak in performing its duties. Nevertheless, it should also be investigated if some Hindus are migrating for better economic prospects. That is not to deny, possible wrong treatment of the minorities. On the other hand, the economically well-off members of minorities should support their downtrodden brethren as also Government must look after the unfortunate without reference to caste or creed. The irony still is that the majority of the people of Pakistan are downtrodden.
@Zaid Hamid: Well done sir. You are the only sane voice from amongst muslims in Pakistan.
It is in the nature of Pakistan to deny everything including the killing of Shias,Ahmedis,Christians and what chance will Hindus have to survive in this extremely fanatic atmosphere.It is better they emigrate and live a more honourable life without looking for hirusite faces.At the same time look at the Muslim community in India who have prospered,built big big business enterprises,are progressive and ask them whether they wish to migrate to Pakistan.
Migration is a natural process. People of villages, if they can go, go to small towns, to seek work and better conditions, people of small towns go to cities to seek work and better conditions, people of the cities move abroad and this process of seeking a better living continues throughout the world. Right now while people from Africa and Asia are trying to migrate to Europe and America. the people of Europe are migrating to Australia, Canada and the USA. The USA is also a desired location for migration of thousands of Latin American people. Is it only Hindoos who are migrating? The answer is no. In fact anyone and everyone who can get out of the subcontinent will do so and go to any better place they see fit to go. The fact remains that the humankind is its own worst enemy. People who built their countries to make it a better place to live did so with hard work. So it is upto the people who want their own locality, town or city to becoem a better place to live. They will need to come together to organise themselves in order to make their locality, town or city a better place to live. Did the poet Iqbal not pen down very philosophically that life can be either Heaven or Hell. It all depends on the deeds of the people.
Pakistan exists because the feudals wanted it. Now these very feudals with help from religious extremists either kill off those who oppose them, or minorities who now refuse to be exploited. The dismissal of Mr. Khurshid was because feudals cannot comprehend a humbling experience like 'shoe shining' of the shoes of minorities. Slowly we are headed towards extinction, thanks to the creators of the State.
“there are 101 federal secretaries in the country, and not a single one of them is from religious minority. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I blame the religious minorities for that not the muslims at all !
@Zaid Hamid Trust me you are not sane. With such comments, you are inflicting damage to both hindus and Muslims likeiwse
this guy is a legend
@Zaid Hamid:
sick mentality..
This is all propaganda. Hindus in Pakistan ate in better condition than the hindus of India. Also there is not even a single case of forced conversio. Hindu teen girls like the beared of Pious Middleaged Muslim men n hence they convert n get married.
While India should accept Hindus from Pakistan, very stringent screening is required to make sure that Muslims of Pakistan come to India posing as Hindus to seek a future.
I urge the Indian mission in Islamabad and the home ministry to adopt very stringent screening procedure.