A series of academic studies presented at a high-level roundtable discussion have found no credible evidence to support the prevalent allegations of forced religious conversions to Islam in Pakistan, concluding that such narratives are largely unsubstantiated.
The consensus emerged at a forum on the ‘Dynamics of Faith Conversion in Pakistan,’ organized by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on Thursday. The event gathered a diverse group of scholars specializing in sociology, anthropology, and interfaith relations to deliberate on the contentious issue.
Six distinct research papers, focusing on Sindh and South Punjab where such claims are most common, were presented. The findings consistently pointed towards voluntary or socially motivated faith transitions rather than systemic coercion, challenging the widespread perception of forced conversions.
Dr. Qudsia Firdous of Riphah International University detailed her five-year doctoral fieldwork in Bahawalpur and Yazman. Her immersive experience, which included visiting mandirs and participating in Hindu festivals, revealed a “remarkable degree of harmony” between communities. A survey of 100 individuals in the area found no instances of coerced religious shifts.
Adding a different perspective, Farrah Kashif, representing an NGO, presented a report based on expert observations and survivor accounts. She contended that force was pervasively used in conversions, but acknowledged it was often in the form of inducement or duress that compromised consent, rather than overt physical compulsion.
Wajid Mansoor, a doctoral researcher from the University of Karachi, labeled the popular narrative as “propaganda-driven.” Citing 42 interviews with converts, clerics, and community leaders in Sindh, he asserted that media portrayals do not reflect ground realities and identified various social factors that prompted conversions among scheduled-caste Hindus.
After more than a decade of anthropological field research, Dr. Ghulam Hussain categorically dismissed the claims of forced conversions in Sindh. His extensive data, covering over 6,000 new converts and 110 detailed interviews, indicated that these conversions are “either willful or caused by several push factors which characterize their former religions.”
Dr. Taimia Sabiha of the International Islamic University, Islamabad, echoed this sentiment. She presented a supervised thesis showing that conversions among women were not abrupt decisions but the result of a long process of “contemplation and search to find the purpose of life,” often taking months or even years.
Hamdan Ali, from a religious seminary in Sindh, explained the meticulous procedures undertaken to verify consent. “We involve families, local Hindu leaders, law enforcement agencies, and the court to ensure that every conversion is willful,” he affirmed.
In his concluding remarks, IPS Chairman Khalid Rahman highlighted the think tank’s commitment to promoting policy narratives grounded in empirical evidence. He called for collaboration between religious communities to dispel misperceptions and foster a society built on mutual respect and cooperation.
The discussion also included contributions from Prof Dr Shahzad Iqbal Sham, Prof Dr Mustafeez Ahmad Alvi, and several other academics and civil society members.