Daily Times

We stand by our declarations that members of every community will be treated as citizens of Pakistan with equal rights and privileges and obligations and that the minorities will be safeguarded and protected.

(M. A. Jinnah, March22, 1948).

In August 1947, Pakistan started its journey with seventy million, Muslim as majority population; Hindus being 13% the largest minority of Pakistan. Ultimately, Pakistan had the second largest Hindu population after India. But steadily this ratio reduced particularly after the fall of Dhaka in December 1971. According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, now Hindus are around 8 million, about 4% of the total population of Pakistan.

According to the Hindu Rights Movement there were total 428 temples in Pakistan at the time of partition of India. Gradually, more than 400 Hindu temples were occupied and turned into restaurants, Govt. offices, shops and schools exploiting and violating the minority rights. During the last couple of years Govt. of Pakistan tried to restore or renovate about 400 Hindu temples but still failed to achieve the task.

Hinduism is world’s third largest religion. According to the reports, since 1981 Hindu population swelled more than 90% in Pakistan. Most of the Hindu community is the settler of Sindh province with 93%, in Punjab around 5% and rest settled in other provinces. In detail, according to the available statistics there are more than 7 million Hindus in Sindh, 350000 in Punjab, 22000 in KPK and 120000 in Baluchistan.

Historically, Hindu community had five imperative temples in Pakistan; the background of these five temples is pivotal and sanctified for Hindu community. Hinglaj Mata Mandir near Makran Coast (Baluchistan), Panchumakhi Hanuman Mandir Karachi (Sindh), Katas Raj Mandir in Chakwal district (Punjab), Sun Temple Multan (Punjab) and Varun Dev Temple Manora Island Karachi (Sindh). In Pakistan many Hindu temples are not functional, for example Lahore having about 1% Hindus of 12 million total population only has two main functional temples KarishnaMandir Ravi Road and Valmiki MandirAnarkali.

Hindus are a tiny community in Pakistan with comparatively low literacy rate; among upper castes this is 35% and in scheduled castes 18%. In Sindh province the Hindu community is comparatively bit established sharing politics, business, also highly qualified and serving the nation in best potential. In Pakistan, like other minorities and tiny communities, Hindu community is also facing certain exploitation and discrimination but have ever been loyal to Pakistan and yet not found involved in any anti-state activity.

The number of Hindus and their eligibility to build a temple in the capital is not the question on the table, but the acknowledgement of their basic and religious rights being Pakistanis is

After the partition of India, a large Hindu majority decided not to leave Pakistan and accepted Pakistan as their homeland. They proved their sincerity with the Country by serving the nation peacefully. Mr. Jinnah appointed Mr. JogindarNath Mandal the first law minister of Pakistan; it was Jinnah’s vision to integrate the minorities in the prosperity and development of the Country. But unfortunately, we failed to follow Jinnah’s version of solidarity and integrated nation. Its key reason is the historical Hind-Muslim biasedness and prejudice in the pre-partition united India. In response after partition, Muslim majority of Pakistan could not accept the Hindu community as the equal part of the Pakistani nation.

Particularly, in Sindh province socially Hindus are also facing alarming discrimination and obstacles like forced conversion, kidnapping of young girls and their forced marriages and less opportunities to survive. As a result, hundreds of Sindhi Hindu families have been moved to India for asylum. The religious extremism, fundamentalism and socially hegemonic behaviour of the majority population is perpetually creating sense of insecurity and uncertainty among Hindus of Pakistan.

The recent Islamabad Mandir issue is quite sufficient to create breeches Muslims and non-Muslim integration. In behavioural terms the reaction of orthodox, fundamentalists and religious stratums is authoritarian. The threatening conduct of Mullahs and so-called religious parties is unjustified. Hindus of Pakistan are Pakistani citizens and have equal rights to live their lives practising respective religion. Unfortunately, religious clerics who are supposed to play their role to promote harmony, are promoting the hate. They are obliged to teach Muslims the Islamic teachings heartening the tiny communities with love and care. In 1992, in response to Babri Mosque demolition issue, Pakistani Muslims attacked Hindu temples. In Karachi 5 and overall in Sindh 25 temples were attacked regardless the fact that Pakistani Hindus were not involved in Babri Mosque dispute but no Mullah ever raised his voice against this destruction of Hindu temples in Pakistan.

Moreover, in 2007 when Mullah Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid Islamabad, creating state within the state in federal capital, these Mullahs remained silent. How a worship place of a tiny community having 4% of population can be destructive for the majority of 95% population? Hindus are the citizens of Pakistan and tax payers. If the state of Pakistan provide them with a financial support, how it can be harmful for an Islamic Republic or its fiscal resources? This is the open violation of the articles 20, 25 and 33 of the constitution of 1973.

Muslims of India demanded separate state because in united India they were unable to practise Islam and their religious freedom was at stake. Then, how the Muslim majority of Pakistan now under rigid religious clerics preventing Hindus to build worship place to practise their religion. There is no law in the country that prevents Hindus from building a temple in the federal capital. The number of Hindus and their eligibility to build a temple in the capital is not the question on the table, but the acknowledgement of their basic and religious rights being Pakistanis is. In fact state of Pakistan is custodian of the rights of minorities, the politicians and religious stratums are only playing for their own socio-political objectives and destroying the social structure of the Country.

Jamia Masjid Delhi in Indian capital is standing with its full glory, but in an Islamic Republic Zimis are still in search of their religious rights. Islam is a religion of peace and promotes brotherhood and equality. Islam guarantees a complete code of conduct in reference of non-Muslims’ rights in an Islamic state. Now this is responsibility of four pillars of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to advance its image by providing the socio-religious privileges to the non-Muslims of Pakistan.

The writer can be reached at busharathistorian@gmail.com