HYDERABAD: A large number of minority community members staged a rally here on Thursday against forced conversions of young Hindu and Christian girls to Islam.
They demanded of the government to smash the dens of Mian Mithoo at Bhurchoondi Sharif in district Ghotki and Peer Sarhandi of Umerkot and alleged that they were running conversion centres under the garb of Madressahs.
On National Minority Day the protestors quoted several excerpts from Quaid-e-Azam’s famous speech which he made on August 11, 1947 in respect of minorities rights. The protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against forced conversions and in favour of their demands urging government to make legislation.
Advocate Bhag Chand Bheel said situation of religious minorities has gone from bad to worse since 1947 with their population diminishing as thousands had left Pakistan while others preparing to migrate.
Mukesh Meghwar said 1,000 cases of forced conversions of Hindu and Christian girls were taking place every year while hundreds do not come into not record. But the government has failed to take action against Mian Mithoo and Peer Sarhandi involved in this ‘dirty’ business.
Pushma Kumari said most of cases of forced conversions have happened in Sindh which were never highlighted in Urdu and English media.
Sindh National Tehreek leader Ashraf Noonari urged the mainstream Urdu and English media to highlight such cases so that authorities concerned could frame policy and take legislative measures against the practice.
Pardeep Kumar said young minority girls were being kidnapped and kept at unknown places for months during which they were brainwashed, threatened and sexually abused and later produced in courts to get statements of kidnappers’ choice.
Shankar Meghwar and Chandan Bheel also spoke on the occasion. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) minority wing also staged protest at local press club. PPP leader Amanullah Sial, former minister Zahid Bhurgri, Riaz Naghar, Ramesh Chanwria, Poonjomal, Nazir Masih, Kashif Bajeer, Maqsood Ghori and others demanded repealing of black laws discriminating against minorities.