The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released a report titled “Exodus: Is the Hindu Community Leaving Sindh?” highlighting the troubling trend of Hindu migration from Sindh due to violence, economic challenges, and climate change.
Key Findings of the Report
- Failure to Protect Vulnerable Minorities
The HRCP report emphasizes the state’s inability to safeguard the Hindu community in Sindh. Families face escalating threats, including faith-based violence, extortion, and systemic economic struggles, forcing them to migrate despite the heavy social and emotional costs. - Targeted Discrimination and Violence
- Religious Persecution: Forced conversions, abductions, and underage marriages, particularly targeting Hindu women, remain pressing issues in Sindh.
- Extortion by Criminal Gangs: Upper-caste Hindu families are frequent targets, further exacerbating their vulnerability amid a deteriorating law and order situation.
- Underreporting of Crimes: Violence and discrimination against the Hindu community are significantly underreported, as highlighted by HRCP chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt.
- Economic and Climate Pressures
Beyond religious persecution, economic hardships and the growing impact of climate change have intensified the migration trend, with many families seeking refuge overseas, including in India.
Calls for Urgent Action
HRCP has outlined key recommendations to address the crisis:
- Improved Law Enforcement: Deploy specialized units to high-risk areas to ensure community safety.
- Legislative Reforms: Strengthen laws against forced conversions, abductions, and child marriages.
- Community Representation: Increase Hindu representation in police forces and engage in consistent dialogue with local communities to address their concerns.
- Credible Data Collection: Establish systems to collect accurate data on the migration of Hindus from Sindh, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.
Voices from the Region
HRCP council member Pushpa Kumari highlighted the specific dangers faced by Hindu women, while journalist Sohail Sangi urged both Sindh and federal governments to enhance protection mechanisms and foster a safer, more inclusive environment for minorities.
Rajvir Singh Sodha, special assistant to the Sindh chief minister for human rights, acknowledged the severity of the issue, pointing to criminal activities targeting Hindu families and the overall governance challenges in the province.
The HRCP report sheds light on the mounting struggles faced by Hindu families in Sindh, urging immediate action to address systemic violence, economic instability, and religious persecution. It calls for comprehensive reforms to protect this vulnerable community and prevent further migration.
The findings underscore the need for a collaborative effort between government agencies, law enforcement, and civil society to create a safe, dignified, and inclusive environment for minorities in Sindh.
Key Recommendations:
- Stronger laws against forced conversions and child marriages.
- Specialized law enforcement for high-risk areas.
- Better representation of minorities in policymaking and law enforcement.
The report serves as a wake-up call to address the underlying causes of this exodus and ensure the protection of minority rights in Pakistan.
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