Dr Malani fears exodus of Hindus to other neighbouring countries like India amid sense of fear and insecurity. DESIGN: JAHANZAIB HAQUE
Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani is a Pakistani Hindu Rajasthani Pushkarna Brahamin politician who once served as a member of the National Assembly on reserved seat.
During his tenure as an MNA, he raised the issue of forced conversion of Hindu girls as well as the registration of Hindu marriages. He has been struggling for Hindus’ rights in Pakistan for the last two decades. But now, he fears exodus of Hindus to other neighbouring countries like India amid sense of fear and insecurity.
Malani, who is the only non-Muslim politician to be elected to the Sindh Assembly, said that committees should be constituted at districts levels to implement the already existing laws to protect minorities’ rights in Pakistan.
“The increasing sense of insecurity, caused by issues like forced conversion of Hindu girls to Islam, is compelling the community members to migrate to other places [like India],” said Dr Malani.
He also recalled that leaders of the Hindu community had taken up the issue with the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which ordered implementation of laws to address the concerns of minorities. “The existing laws should be implemented to protect their [minorities’] rights – this was the court’s order,” he added.
He is currently serving as the President of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Minority Wing of Sindh province and president of his party in district Tharparkar. His brothers, late Motiram Malani and late Jagdish Malani, were also elected members of National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial Assembly of Sindh respectively.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Malani said that though Pakistan is a safe country for non-Muslims and minorities are happy to live here, it’s also true that some big business magnates belonging to the Hindu community are shifting their businesses due to worsening law and order situation in Karachi.
The gap between the poor and rich has widened in Hindu majority areas in Sindh due to discrimination by the local rulers towards the minority, he complained. Better health and educational facilities should be provided by the government to minorities.
In his message to the Hindu community, he called upon promotion of brotherhood. Advising the community, he said that Hindus must be true Pakistanis and believe in democracy which guarantees better rights to everyone across the globe.
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COMMENTS (10)
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Don't get carried away. This MPA is just a facade for face saving. Wait and watch. Nawaz Shariff has no choice because he has to survive in the midst of snakes...
You won direct elections in Pakistan. Impressive. Best of luck malani sahab
With my due respects, unless the Abrahamic Religions shun violence and hate in their respective religious texts, this atrocity will keep perpetuating. Nothing surprising.
@ashar:
"@Prof. Shahid Mobeen: What if the conversion is willful."
If these were willful, NADRA would have published their details such as where are they now, are they still with the muslim family they move to after their conversion and are they still married to the same muslim man for whom they converted. The fact that NADRA does not bring out these details shows that these were forced and raped conversions. Pakistanis know this also and this is the reason no one has ever asked NADRA to probe and publish. Seasoned ministers like Chandio did not do it for the same reasons. CJ who takes suo-moto so often also would not do it.
@Prof. Shahid Mobeen: What if the conversion is willful.
I have some questions.
Has anyone seen photographs or videos of any of these minority MPA's in the Assemby at any time? Has any of these minority ministers ever brought any bill in the Assembly?
However, for the first time I watched "Capital Special on Capital Tv (Part-2) - 21st June 2013" and was very pleased to see the change. The anchor Beenish Saleem and Raza Rumi were totally unbiased and gave full opportunity to the minority ministers and also callers who commented on telephone.
THIS IS THE ONY TV DEBATE THAT I HAVE SEEN EVER IN PAKISTAN CHANNELS WHERE THE ANCHORS DID NOT TRY TO INFLUENCE OR COLOR THE DEBATE. I REALLY LIKE IT. THE SIKH MPA HAD PROMISED THAT PML-N WILL TAKE ACTIONS ON SOME CASES. LET US SEE IF THEY REALLY DO IT.
Forced conversions is a growing instance in Pakistan. The most affected are the hindù and christian girls. Islam teaches that there is no obligation "Jabr" in religion.
Come to India...........U r welcome.........Make Pakistan more Pak.........
There are about 30 reserved seats for Hindus in the assembly too. He is not alone.