The alleged kidnapping and conversion of a young girl from Daharki has sparked anger among the Hindu community of Ghotki district in general and among the Meghwar community in particular.
Eight days ago, 12-year-old Anjali Kumari Meghwar, daughter of Kundan Mal Meghwar of Mustafa Abad Muhalla, had allegedly eloped with Riaz Sial of Maswan Muhalla. According to some reports, the couple went to Dargah Bharchoondi Sharif, where Anjali embraced Islam of her own will and was named Salma Bibi.
She reportedly also appeared before a civil judge in Sadiqabad, Punjab, and filed an application requesting protection against her parents and community members.
The incident angered the girl’s parents and community, who allege that she was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam. On Friday, Anjali was handed over to the police with help of an influential figure of Daharki, and she was produced before a civil court on Sunday to record a statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
As she was unable to record a statement, the judge decided to send her to a shelter house in Karachi for 10 days, after which she is to reappear before court.The police have so far not arrested Sial.
According to her father, Kundan, who is a schoolteacher, five men including Sial broke into his house and kidnapped Anjali.
“My daughter is 12 years old,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that she was born on March 2, 2002. “How can a 12-year-old girl decide to change her religion of her own free will?”
Talking about her appearance in court on Sunday, he claimed that she had not been allowed to talk to them. “However, I am satisfied with the court’s decision because these 10 days will give her relief from pressure and help her think positively,” he said. “I am optimistic that without pressure, she will decide in our favour.”
On the other hand, Pir Abdul Khaliq of Dargah Bharchoondi Sharif refuted Kundan’s claims.
“She is not a minor, she is an adult and can make decisions of her own free will,” he asserted. “Being the Gadi Nasheen of a reputed Dargah, I have extensive knowledge about Islamic and Pakistani laws and it is not possible for me to make decisions that go against them.”
Khaliq said that Islam opposed forced conversion, explaining that he took extra care while handling such cases of conversion, interviewing the girls to ensure that they were not being forced.
“There have been many Hindu girls who eloped and came to our Dargah before, regretting their decisions,” he said. “If they have regrets, we respectfully send them back to their parents.” He added that Salma (Anjali) was an adult and not a minor, as her father claimed.
According to sources, Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked the Sukkur DIG and Ghotki SSP to probe into the matter. However, Larkana DIG Saen Rakhio Mirani, who is also looking after the charge of Sukkur DIG, expressed his ignorance and said that he had already taken up the matter. “We are making all efforts to provide protection to the minorities,” he went on. “We are also conducting raids to arrest Sial.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2014.
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