A voice for the voiceless: MPAs take up the minorities' cause

Lawmakers ask the Islamic Ideology Council to clear its stance on forced conversions.

KARACHI: Sindh's lawmakers are worried about the problems being faced by minorities. They want the government to take 'appropriate' action for the protection of religious minorities in the province.

On Tuesday, the Sindh Assembly adopted a resolution, demanding the government to take steps against the 'injustices' being suffered by minority communities. They also urged lawmakers to play an active role to protect such communities in their constituencies.



The resolution was moved by the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional parliamentary leader, Nand Kumar. "Girls of the Hindu community are being kidnapped, raped and forced to convert to Islam. This assembly recommends that the minor girl, Anjali Menghwar, who was kidnapped from Ghotki district, be recovered and handed over to her parents and the culprits be arrested and punished according to the law," the resolution reads. It also urged the government to take steps to avoid such incidents in the future.

The resolution prompted several members of the House to give their input. Some suggested that such incidents were the prime cause for member of religious minorities wishing to leave the country. They criticised the influential persons, particularly the pirs and religious clerics, for forcibly converting minor girls.

"A 12-year-old girl cannot take the decision to change her religion," said Nand Kumar, referring to several cases of Hindu girls who had been kidnapped in Sindh. "Girls of our community are converted and married to Muslim boys at gunpoint."

Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Nadir Magsi, who belongs to the powerful Magsi tribe of Sindh and Balochistan, said that incidents not only defame Sindh and Pakistan but are also against the teachings of Islam. "We have saved the lives of many women and have made safe houses where victims are rehabilitated until they can go back to their homes," he revealed. "Each of us will have to play a role in the fight against this sick mentality to protect the minority people in our own areas."

Irum Azeem Farooque of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) drew the attention of the House towards the child marriage law passed by the Sindh Assembly a few months ago. "The law declares it illegal for anyone under 18 to contract marriage," she said, demanding to implement the law in letter and spirit and bring another bill to protect the minorities.

Khatu Mal Jeevan of the PPP said that at least 15 girls of minority communities have been kidnapped in Sindh and Punjab in the current year.

MQM's Faisal Subzwari suggested forming a special committee of the house to start a public hearing on the issue in order to strengthen the law against forced conversions and protect minorities.

The lawmakers also questioned the role of the Islamic Ideological Council. "The Islamic Ideological Council should clear its stance, rather than keeping mum on this issue. Some extremists are defaming Islam by indulging in such practices," said PPP MPA Jam Khan Shoro.

Though it was a private members' days when several private resolutions and bills were on the agenda, the minorities' issue took up the entire session.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2014.