KARACHI: The Pir of Bharchundi Sharif, Pir Abdul Haq, aka Mian Mithu, blamed for alleged forced conversions of Hindu girls in rural Sindh, on Tuesday categorically denied all forced conversions allegations and called for harmony among Muslims and minorities in the province.

He claimed that “conspirators” were trying to sabotage peace in Sindh.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, he said he and his followers had nothing to do with recent violence in Ghotki over alleged incident of blasphemy.

Muslims and Hindus were living in Sindh together for centuries and it was not possible to break this harmony with any conspiracy, he added.

“In rural Sindh, we share same burial places and even masajid and mandirs have been built next to each other,” he said. “I am an advocate of harmony and it is so unfortunate that certain elements are sowing seeds of conspiracy for their personal gains. In the garb of campaign against me and my people, they also attack Islam and try to portray our religion [as being] against minorities.”

Mr Mithu is one of the pirs of Dargah Bharchundi Sharif and an influential political figure in the district.

He came under the spotlight after he allegedly converted a Hindu girl, Rinkle Kumari, who was later renamed Faryal, to Islam in February, 2012, before her marriage to a local Muslim, Naveed Shah.

During the press conference, he strongly condemned such allegations and denied his role in forced conversions calling it “against the spirit of Islamic teachings”.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2019