Sunil accompanied by religious clerics during Ramazan show. — YouTube
Sunil accompanied by religious clerics during Ramazan show. — YouTube video grab

KARACHI: A Pakistani Hindu's conversion to Islam live on television during a prime-time Ramazan chat show has sparked criticism on behalf of religious minorities in the country.

In just five minutes, the 20-year-old introduced as Sunil officially changed his religion under a cleric's guidance.

A packed studio audience congratulated him and shouted out suggestions for his new Muslim name before he was renamed Mohammad Abdullah — the consensus choice.

Abdullah insisted on Friday that he had been a willing convert.

“I have accepted Islam by my own will and my family has no objection,” he told AFP by telephone from the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust, where a staff member said he has worked as their office boy for the last six years.

But Pakistan has been criticised by rights groups for showing an increased lack of tolerance towards religious minorities, who complain of discrimination, and critics blasted the show, broadcast by private channel ARY on Wednesday.

“The joy with which the conversion was greeted and the congratulations that followed sent a clear signal that other religions don't enjoy the same status in Pakistan as Islam does,” wrote Dawn, Pakistan's oldest newspaper, on Friday.

“In a country where minorities are already treated as second-class citizens in many ways, this served to marginalise them even further,” it said.

It was a second recent controversy for chat show host Maya Khan, who was this year sacked by a rival channel after chasing couples in a public park, accusing them of behaving immorally.

Ramesh Kumar, a leader of the Pakistan Hindu Council, told AFP that Wednesday's programme would encourage intolerance.

“We are already intimidated. The government gives little heed to the kidnapping of Hindus and forced faith conversion of our girls. Please don't do things that make us more alienated,” he told AFP.

Talat Hussain, who hosts a political show on private television channel DawnNews, also warned against turning religion into mass entertainment.

“Think about how Muslims would feel when Buddhists in Burma show similarly a Muslim being converted in a live TV show,” he told AFP.

According to Government of Pakistan's  figures, Hindus make up 2.5 per cent of the country's population of around 180 million.

Opinion

Enter the deputy PM

Enter the deputy PM

Clearly, something has changed since for this step to have been taken and there are shifts in the balance of power within.

Editorial

All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...
Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...