LARKANA: A daughter lives with her parents for 20 to 25 years, but she is suddenly abducted and her religion is forcibly converted.

This was stated by Chela Ram, Chairman, Minorities Commission of Pakistan, while addressing a press conference at Hindu Dharamshalla on Sunday along with his members Dr Jaipal Chabria, Babu Kothari, Hindu Panchayat Larkana Chairman Dr. Dharampal, Peso Ram, Dr. Dayalli Gul, Santosh Kumar, Dr. Vali Ram and others.

He said that on 3rd April Hindu girl Arti was abducted from Ali Gohar Abad and was forced into marriage after forcible conversion of her religion. He said such incidents had also taken place before, but family members of Arti were shedding tears of blood even today. He said they would not sit silently on this issue.

He said that no medical checkup was carried out of Arti and she was produced before court within three days and her parents were also denied a meeting for which, he added, we also held a protest demo but no notice was taken. He said Larkana is the hub of PPP and city of martyrs but their daughters were not safe here. He said: “Our daughters go to schools, colleges and bazaars in other cities as well but they are abducted in the name of religion adding sometimes it is Rinkle, Arzoo, Payal and now Arti.”

Ram asked why our daughters are not kept like mothers, sisters and why they are married only. He asked why our aged men and women are not converting their religion and why only 15-year girls are changing their religion? He said that we members of Hindu community are the real owners of this land. He said in Islam untill and unless uncle, maternal uncle or any blood relative is not made a witness in Nikah, marriage is not allowed but no explanation was given on the nikah of Arti despite objection by our advocate.

He said MNA Ramesh Lal brought a bill against forced conversions but it is yet to be approved adding had that bill been passed this situation would not have arisen. He said we feel insecure because Hindu community is treated step-motherly in Sindh. He said we were born in Sindh even then atrocities are being committed with us. He said our worship places and daughters are still unsafe here hence we have no right to live here but, he added, we will not sit silently now against such tyrannies.

He urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Government to pass a bill for provision of protection to the Hindu community without loss of further time or else, he warned, we will fight for our rights.