HYDERABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Kheal Das Kohistani, who is also the minority wing general secretary of the party’s Sindh chapter, on Sunday criticised Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah for supporting handing over the Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi to the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa).

Speaking at a press conference in the local press club, Mr Kohistani referred to the minister’s recent speech on the floor of the Sindh Assembly and said: “It is really sad that Mr Shah supported handing over of the historical and heritage site, the Hindu Gymkhana, to Napa although the matter is pending adjudication”.

Instead of protecting rights of the minorities, the Sindh government was usurping them, he observed. He argued that if the government’s aim was to promote performing arts and music, it should look for some fair measures to help Napa.

Mr Kohistani said that the Hindu community had already filed a petition in the Sindh High Court [for the custody of the gymkhana] which had later been transferred to the Supreme Court. A verdict on the matter was pending, he said, adding that Napa had also obtained a stay order from the high court.

By supporting Napa’s stance on the matter, the minister had offended the Hindu community, the PML-N leader said, and called for an apology from the minister.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2017