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ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Tuesday declared the conversion of Hindu girls to Islam as un-Islamic and also expressed concern over the practice.
“Forced conversion of girls to Islam is against the teachings of Islam and also a violation of law in the country,” stated Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs’ Hafiz Hamdullah.
“The girls are being across the country on a daily basis which is a dilemma of the society.”
The chairman of the committee added religion is a personal matter of every individual, and said an individual can not be converted by force.
Leader of House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq also stated that compelling anyone to convert is against the teachings of Islam.
“We are already under observation from human rights organisations due to growing incidents of force conversions,” Haq added.
Senator Gian Chand informed the committee that Hindu girls in Sindh are the victims of force conversions and incidents of force conversions in Sindh are alarming.
Chand was of the opinion that police and local administration do not help the victims or their families in cases of forced conversions.
“Police does not take action fearing the reaction of the Muslim community,” added Chand.
The standing committee urged the government to adopt a comprehensive mechanism for the protection of women belonging to minority communities. The committee also directed the federal and provincial governments to draft legislation which would curb the practice.
Last year, a move to criminalise forced religious conversions and to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law was endorsed by the members of the Senate’s Functional Committee on Human Rights.
Comments (15) Closed
Too late, it should have to happen long before.
Hamdullah is the same guy who manhandled a woman on live TV. He is not fit to be free and instead he is chairman of a committee of senate!
Excellent - its never too late.
This is very welcome recommendation by the Parliamentary committee of Pakistan. One hope the Pakistan legislature pass appropriate laws and implement it strictly and educate the masses through the religious seminaries, media and opinion makers about the un Islamic nature of this practice. As an India Muslim, I wish my Pakistani brethren to know that anything done or happening in Pakistan has affect in India.
Nice decision .
Very correct.
This Hafiz Hamdullah should be behind bars after the way he insulted women. No room for people like him in society.
@Desi Dimag - Are you saying its no point doing it anymore even if it helps going forward?
It is really encouraging that a problem of forced conversion is recognized and appropriate decision to curve this is taken. If govt. come out of denial in such matter, an appropriate action regarding discrimination against Ahmadis also should be taken. All minorities need to be protected as they are all Pakitanis.
Senate should declare Pakistan a secular state and then you can fly towards development uninterrupted.
So if it were islamic, it would be ok? What sort of logic is that? If it is inhumane, illegal and against common sense, then it should be banned and enforced, Why should forced conversions be ok if it is islamic?
No more hurting anyone! I love Hinduism and all my brothers from every faith. Enough of this, it is high time we stop this in both India and Pakistan. Together we are strong. Shanti everyone.
Too little too late! Sorry state of affairs ready to implode.
Once a hindu Bangladesi-Canadian woman sitting next to me on an airplane told me that it's a curse to be parents of a beautiful girl if you are a hindu in Bangladesh, perhaps it's true for Pakistan as well.
No one can force anyone to change their religious beliefs, only to outwardly pretend to.