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Tag: Hindus in Pakistan

  • Pakistani Hindus protest towards abduction of neighborhood members in Sindh province

    Pakistan’s Hindu neighborhood members together with individuals from different faiths have been staging a protest since September 1 over the kidnapping of some members of the minority neighborhood by bandits in riverine areas in southern Sindh province’s Kashmore, in accordance with a media report on Monday.

    Dr Chand Mahar, the senior vice chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) minority wing in Sindh and one of many people main the protest, stated the demonstration was being staged at Dera More — an space close to the Sindh-Punjab border — since Friday final week, Dawn.com reported.

    Three members of the Hindu neighborhood — recognized as Mukhi Jagdish Kumar, Sagar Kumar and Jaideep Kumar — have been in dacoits’ captivity after they had been just lately intercepted by them, Mahar stated.

    He added {that a} Muslim physician — Munir Naij — had additionally been held captive for the previous 40 days.

    Mukhi was a 72-year-old businessman and Jaideep was 9 years outdated, Mahar stated, including that they had been kidnapped from Kashmore. Sagar was additionally kidnapped from Kashmore metropolis whereas Naij was kidnapped in Guddu round 40 days again, he stated.

    Protests over their abduction, in addition to rising incidents of robberies in Sindh, had been additionally held in a number of different cities within the province on Sunday, with the relations of the victims demanding their early and protected restoration.

    The protesters, together with individuals from all faiths, additionally demanded an operation by the Army and Rangers towards the abductors and bandits.

    “Everyone is asking us to call off the protest but hostages are still in dacoits’ captivity,” he said, adding that people were “fed up with these kidnappings”.

    He said Kashmore Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Sheikh had assured the protesters that the hostages would be recovered soon.

    Mahar estimated that around 40 people had been kidnapped by riverine bandits during the last few months. “Some of them were released after the payment of ransom,” he added.

    “We are taken as simple prey by dacoits so far as the cost of ransom is anxious. Since most of them (members of the Hindu neighborhood) run companies, they’re kidnapped by dacoits,” he stated.

    Dr Lal Chand Ukrani, president of the PPP’s minority wing in Sindh, voiced related sentiments. “We (Hindus) are easy targets,” he stated. “Muslims are also kidnapped but Hindus are an easy target for ransom.”

    He stated he had raised the matter with former chief minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and had been in talks with him over the difficulty earlier than the tip of his tenure “because the law and order situation in upper Sindh is very bad, especially in Kashmore”.

    On Sunday, caretaker Sindh Home Minister Haris Nawaz informed reporters in Thatta {that a} plan had been finalised for launching an operation towards bandits within the riverine areas of Jacobabad and Shikarpur, and the subsequent part of the operation could be extra result-oriented.

    Edited By:

    Prateek Chakraborty

    Published On:

    Sep 5, 2023

  • Hindu man arrested on blasphemy expenses in Pakistan

    A Hindu man in Pakistan’s Punjab province has been arrested for allegedly committing blasphemy by making ‘disrespectful’ feedback about Muslim holy locations and shifted to jail to guard him from an enraged mob, police mentioned on Monday.

    The police took the suspect – recognized as Akbar Ram of West of Rahim Yar Khan district, some 400 kms from provincial capital Lahore – into custody on the grievance filed by Faisal Munir, an individual from his space, who produced two witnesses earlier than the police to make a case in opposition to him.

    Inspector Safdar Hussain of Kotsamaba Police Station Rahim Yar Khan advised PTI on Monday that police arrested suspect Akbar Ram underneath blasphemy expenses on August 11 and instantly shifted him to jail on judicial remand fearing a law-and-order state of affairs within the village.

    “Had we kept the blasphemy suspect in the police station it might have triggered a law-and-order situation in the area as he was accused of hurting the sentiments of Muslims,” Hussain mentioned.

    Akbar Ram has been booked each underneath blasphemy legislation (295-A of Pakistan Penal Code) and the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

    The official added that the well timed arrival of police saved the lifetime of Akbar Ram.

    “Police reached the village after learning that a Hindu man had committed blasphemy and the people were gathering near his house. Police controlled the situation and took Akbar Ram into custody as the mob was demanding that he should be handed over to them,” he mentioned.

    According to the FIR, a duplicate of which is obtainable with PTI, complainant Faisal Munir, a motor mechanic by occupation, mentioned that he was current at his workshop together with Tahiq Majid and Muhammad Tariq when Akbar Ram got here there and began making feedback disrespectful to Muslim holy locations.

    The complainant additional alleged that Akbar Ram earlier than committing blasphemy in entrance of many individuals on August 11 additionally used to make objectionable feedback about Islam earlier than him.

    The relations of Akbar Ram have reportedly fled the village after blasphemy expenses had been hurled at him to save lots of their lives.

    Pakistan is among the many international locations the place blasphemy is punishable by loss of life. Blasphemy is a vastly delicate problem within the nation, the place even unproven allegations can stir mobs and violence.

    In 2021, a Sri Lankan nationwide who was working as a manufacturing facility supervisor in Punjab province was killed by an indignant mob over allegations of blasphemy.

    Minorities together with Christians and Hindus in Pakistan have ceaselessly been subjected to blasphemy allegations and a few had been tried and even sentenced underneath the robust blasphemy legislation.

    According to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan’s blasphemy legal guidelines are “controversial” with public opinion in two distinct camps.

    One camp believes the legal guidelines to be completely important and essential for the safety of Muslims’ sentiments. The different view is that the legal guidelines are draconic, leveraged by vested pursuits to primarily goal minorities, and used to settle private vendettas and disputes.

    Published On:

    Aug 14, 2023

  • Hindu teen in Pakistan kidnapped, transformed to Islam and married off by tutor

    By Subodh Kumar: A Hindu lady in Pakistan’s Sindh province was allegedly kidnapped, forcibly transformed to Islam and married off, her father mentioned. The teen, recognized as Suhana, was kidnapped and despatched to the Qazhi Ahmed Taluka of Sindh’s Shaheed Benazirabad district by her tutor, Akhtar.

    Speaking concerning the incident, the 14-year-old lady’s father, Dileep Kumar, mentioned that three armed males – Akhtar Gabol, Faizan Jat and Sarang Khaskheli – entered their dwelling, looted gold ornaments, and kidnapped Suhana at gunpoint.

    Although Kumar has lodged a police criticism, he has no hopes of getting his daughter again, because the police have claimed that Suhana transformed and married of her personal will.

    Also Read: How teenagers have been transformed by way of on-line gaming app. UP Police busts racket

    Cases of compelled conversion of Hindu ladies and married ladies proceed unabated in Pakistan. Hindus in Pakistan are primarily concentrated in Sindh province, the place the vast majority of Hindu enclaves within the nation are discovered.

    According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Muslims account for about 96 per cent of the nation’s 207 million inhabitants, whereas Hindus account for two.1 per cent and Christians about 1.6 per cent.

    Also Read: The Kerala Story impressed me to file criticism: Ranchi mannequin accuses man of conversion bid

  • Hindu man employed with Pakistani data channel kidnapped, mother pleads for his safe return

    By India Today World Desk: An particular person from the minority Hindu group, working as promoting head of a primary data channel in Pakistan, was kidnapped from exterior his residence, native media reported.

    Akash Ram, who was the promoting head of Bol News, was kidnapped inside the wee hours of Tuesday and was taken in a silver car that was normally seen taking rounds exterior the headquarters of the media organisation, in keeping with CCTV footage.

    The promoting head was kidnapped alongside alongside along with his security guard and two completely different servants at 6 am, Bol News reported.

    CCTV cameras had been found to be destroyed, in keeping with the report.

    Ghulam Abbas Shah, who works as a broadcast journalist at Bol News, tweeted a video of Akash Ram’s mother who’s repeatedly pleading to authorities to hold her son once more residence safely.

    #Pakistan’s Leading News Channel #BOLNews Marketing Head Akash Ram (Hindu) was kidnapped exterior of his residence inside the wee hours on Tuesday.the promoting head was kidnapped by way of a silver car that was moreover normally seen taking rounds exterior #BOL ، Akash’s mother’s appeal👇 pic.twitter.com/KrvrKqLG0B
    — Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) April 12, 2023

    “We were sleeping at 8 am when my younger son called me and said someone abducted my elder son. There is no news of his whereabouts. Why have they kidnapped my son? My son is innocent. Please bring my son back,” the mother, who was crying profusely, acknowledged inside the video tweeted by the Pakistani journalist.

    She acknowledged, “Why does it (abductions) happen in this country everytime? He (Akash) has done a lot for Pakistan. He helped the poor. Then what was his fault? I just want to see my son again. I just want him back, nothing else.”

    REPEATED INCIDENTS OF TARGETED ATTACKS AGAINST MINORITIES

    There have been quite a few conditions of centered killings and abductions of people belonging to the minority group, notably Hindus, in Pakistan.

    Three incidents of centered killings acquired right here to the fore in March itself.

    On March 31, Dayal Singh, a Sikh businessman was shot ineffective by unknown gunmen at his retailer in Peshawar.

    Dr Birbal Genani, a retired director of Karachi Municipal Corporation and ophthalmologist, was shot ineffective near the Lyari Expressway on March 20. His assistant, Dr Qurat-ul-Ain, was moreover injured inside the assault. CCTV footage confirmed the duo had been travelling inside the automotive when the assault occurred.

    On March 7, Dharam Dev Raathi, a well being care supplier from Pakistan’s Hyderabad was killed by his driver inside his house. Police knowledgeable Pakistani data outlet The Nation that the driving force slit the doctor’s throat with a knife. The driver, acknowledged as Hanif Leghari, was arrested from his residence in Khairpur.

  • Hindu physician shot useless in Pakistan, second focused killing in a month

    Dr Birbal Genani was shot useless whereas his assistant, Dr Qurat-ul-Ain, was injured within the assault. The two had been travelling in a automotive, CCTV footage confirmed.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 30, 2023 22:14 IST

    Dr Birbal Genani was an ophthalmologist (Photo: Twitter/@YusraSAskari)

    By India Today World Desk: The retired director of Karachi Municipal Corporation and ophthalmologist, Dr Birbal Genani, was shot useless close to the Lyari Expressway at present, the native media reported. His assistant, Dr Qurat-ul-Ain, was injured within the assault. The two had been travelling in a automotive, CCTV footage confirmed.

    Based on the CCTV footage of the assault, it’s being suspected to be a case of focused killing.

    This is the second case of an assault on a Hindu physician in Pakistan this month.

    Also Read | Driver slits Hindu physician’s throat in Pakistan, arrested

    Earlier this month, a health care provider from Pakistan’s Hyderabad, Dharam Dev Raathi, was allegedly killed by his driver inside his home. The police instructed Pakistani information outlet The Nation that the driving force slit the physician’s throat with a knife.

    The police arrested the driving force from his residence in Khairpur and recognized him as Hanif Leghari.

    The physician’s prepare dinner instructed the police that the 2 had an altercation on their means residence. Once residence, the driving force allegedly took a knife from the kitchen and killed the physician in his own residence.

    Also Read | India hits out at Pak international minister for citing Kashmir at UNSC debate

    Published On:

    Mar 30, 2023

  • US Senator requires launch of Hindu instructor jailed in Pakistan for blasphemy

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: US Senator Marco Antonio Rubio has requested for the discharge of a Hindu instructor Notan Lal who was falsely accused of blasphemy and imprisoned for 25 years in Pakistan’s Sindh. 

    “Notal Lal was arrested for committing blasphemy based on false testimony and sentenced to 25 years in a Pakistan prison. We ask for his release. Pakistan is a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations,” Senator Rubio mentioned in a tweet.

    Notan Lal has been languishing in a jail in Sukkur in Sindh since 2019. His sentence was introduced final month, wherein he was requested to pay Rs 50,000 as effective and serve a 25-year time period in jail.

    Despite discovering no proof in opposition to Lal, he continues to be in jail. According to some media stories in Pakistan, his scholar (Mohammad Ihtisham) took to social media and confessed that he had cooked up the fees levelled in opposition to his instructor and even sought forgiveness.

    This arrest additionally led to communal violence, desecration of temples, and burning of retailers owned by Hindus. The violence unfold to cities like Mirpur, Mathelo, and Adilpur.

    According to a assume tank primarily based in Pakistan, the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan has reported a complete of 1,415 instances of blasphemy within the nation since partition in 1947. Out of this round 18 ladies and 71 males had been extra-judicially killed over blasphemy.

    The think-tank additionally says that the precise instances could be a lot increased as not all instances are reported. More than 70 per cent of such instances had been reported from Punjab. Meanwhile, final month the European Parliament had known as for a decision to overview the Generalised Schemes of Preference Plus (GSP+) standing granted to Pakistan as a result of an alarming stage of enhance in using blasphemy accusations throughout the nation. Besides, they’d taken notice of rising variety of on-line and offline assaults on journalists and civil society organisations.

    Pakistan is apprehensive about this because it might imply momentary withdrawal of their standing and advantages that include it. EU’s GSP removes import duties from merchandise coming into the EU market from susceptible growing international locations. This helps growing international locations to alleviate poverty and create jobs primarily based on worldwide values and ideas, together with labour and human rights.

    During the sixth spherical of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue (held in Brussels in December), the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of European Commission Josep Borrell expressed concern over the human rights scenario in Pakistan.

    The EU had maintained that Pakistan had did not make significant advances iN defending human rights, notably in relation to the controversial blasphemy legal guidelines.