UMERKOT: Ayub Jan Sarhandi, a cleric notorious for forced conversion of Hindu girls, held a protest rally on Sunday against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Lalchand Malhi, terming him an “agent of RAW” and a “threat to coexistence of area”. The rally was taken out from Gulzar-e- Khalil Samaro to Umerkot. The charged participants were carrying banners and shouting slogans against Malhi. The rally was participated by hundreds of disciples of Sarhandi. Sarhandi said Malhi was working on the RAW’s payroll. He demanded that the government arrest Malhi in a week, otherwise state will be responsible for any untoward incident. Speaking at the rally, Yaqoob Saqib Arisar said Malhi has always tried to harm the peace and religious harmony of the area. “He is a Hindu extremist. In Ravita’s case, he had used blasphemous contents at different forums. Malhi had approached Hindus in election and begged for their votes on religious grounds. He has always tried to internalize the hatred against Muslims wherever he was got an opportunity.” Yaqoob added that law enforcers should proactively observe Lalchand’s controversial role. However, Malhi rejected the allegations and said that Sarhandi is using such tactic to harass local Hindus ahead of upcoming general elections. “Sarhandi is notorious for forced conversion and we protested against the forced conversion of Hindu girl Ravita last month and in reaction he always brings such allegations,” Malhi told Daily Times over phone. He said that since people of district Umerkot are sick of the PPP, so a provincial minister wanted to harass local Hindus by using religious extremists against them. Published in Daily Times, August 7th 2017.