KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly has demanded that the government provide protection to non-Muslim minority communities and those involved in excesses against them be arrested and punished to prevent forced conversions in future.

The demand was made in a resolution tabled by PML-F parliamentary party leader Nand Kumar in the house on Tuesday, which was the private members’ day.

Speaking on the resolution, a total of 19 lawmakers across the floor of the house highlighted the persecution of the Hindu community, with particular reference to the recent kidnapping of 12-year-old Anjali Kumari Meghwar in Daharki before her alleged forced conversion and marriage. They said the ‘marriage’ was a violation of the child marriage law and demanded that the girl be handed over to her parents and proper security be provided to them.

The resolution was unanimously passed by the house after it was put to a vote after the speeches.

The resolution reads: “The assembly resolves and recommends that the government take appropriate action over the injustices against the religious minorities that are increasing day by day. Girls of Hindu community are being kidnapped, raped and their religion changed by force.

“This assembly also recommends that a minor girl namely Anjali Meghwar, who was kidnapped from Daharki, be recovered and handed over to her parents and culprits be arrested and punished. The government should ensure that in future no such practice is repeated and all the members of this august house are requested to play their role within their constituency to protect the rights of religious minorities.”

PPP lawmaker Erum Khalid said the girl had been recovered from kidnappers and produced in court. The police also arrested the alleged kidnapper, while Anjali was shifted to Darul Aman in Karachi. A team had been sent to probe the issue and present a report before the house next week, she said.

MQM lawmaker Poonjomal said Anjali’s issue was not alone but hundreds of such incidents kept recurring. Anjali was not being allowed to see her parents, he said.

Other business on the agenda, including three resolutions, four private bills, five motions and amendment to the rules of procedure, could not be taken up for want of time, as Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani called it a day at 2.10pm to meet on Wednesday at 10am.

Earlier PML-F lawmaker Nand Kumar referred to the birth certificate of Anjali and asked which law allowed kidnapping and marriage of a 12-year-old girl. He said the Sindh assembly had passed legislation prohibiting marriages of persons below 18 years of age. “Why are a number of victims in Pakistan minorities? Are we not Pakistani, Sindhi or human beings?” he asked.

Another PPP lawmaker, Dr Lal Chand, said the minority communities were disappointed with courts. He asked as to how a 12-year-old girl could decide to change her religion and get married. He also asked why after her recovery she had not been handed over to her parents.

MQM lawmaker Erum Farroqui said the girl should be taken out from Darul Aman and handed over to her parents. She highlighted the need for legislation against forced conversions.

PPP legislator Dr Khatumal Jeevan said excesses being committed against the minorities in Sindh had embarrassed the entire nation.

‘Anjali is the daughter of Pakistan’

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sikandar Mandhro said: “Anjali is our daughter and we are grieved.” He assured the house on behalf of the Sindh government to provide all necessary assistance in her case to get justice.

MQM lawmaker Mohammad Hussain said that excesses against women were on the rise and such treatment with helpless families was regrettable. “The entire house ought to turn to protest on the incident of Anjali, as she is the daughter of Pakistan and Sindh.”

Leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Shaharyar Mahar said ransom cases, forced conversions, marriages of girls after being kidnapped and such other excesses against the minorities continued that was why people belonging to minority communities were migrating from Sindh. The government should act to provide them justice, he said.

PPP lawmaker Nadir Magsi said he belonged to a tribal area and was quite aware of such incidents. He said Anjali was only 12 years old and by keeping her in isolation any statement could be taken from her.

MQM legislator Syed Faisal Sabzwari said Sindh had demonstrated courage by adopting legislation banning child marriages despite the objections raised by the Council of Islamic Ideology. He said the case of the 12-year-old girl was not an issue of minorities alone but of all Pakistanis. He called for the formation of a special committee that after study suggested amendments to the laws that could check recurrence of such incidents.

Deputy Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza said all laws were there and lawmakers were waiting for verdict of the court.

PML-F legistlator Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said 93 per cent Hindu population of Pakistan lived in Sindh, while half of Thar residents were Hindu. Pleading to do justice with the minorities, she wondered why only Hindu girls always fled with Muslim boys and not vice versa.

Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan said that before Gen Zia’s rule they had not heard of forced conversions. Forcing Sindhi Hindus to change their religion was a conspiracy against Sindh, Pakistan and Islam, he added.

MQM lawmaker Naheed Begum said the minorities should be provided protection which was their constitutional right.

Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Mukesh Chaowla, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Mohesh Kumar Malani, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr Sohrab Khan Sarki of the PPP said such incidents were taking place in Pakistan for want of implementation of laws.

Senior minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro said the military dictator, Gen Ziaul Haq, by introducing separate electorate had turned the minorities into second grade citizen. He said action should also be taken against those who had solemnised the marriage and the officials concerned of the area where the Nikah was registered.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2014