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Contents
Introduction. 1
Chapter One
Hindus in Sindh Historical Analysis
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Population of Hindus.. 3
Historical Perspectives of Hindu Migration... 4
Civilizations of Hindus... 4
Golden time of Hindus 5
Downfall of Hindus. 6
Current Status of Hindus. 7
Chapter Two

1.

2.

3.

4.

Causes Behind Hindu Migration

Political Causes.. 10
1.1 Insecurity.. 10
1.2 Government Failure.. 11
1.3 Failure of Law Enforcement Agencies 12
1.4 No Protection For Hindu Community.. 12
Social Causes...... 13
2.1 Intolerance Towards Hindu Customs and Traditions... 13
2.2 Bonded Labor... 14
2.3 Discrimination at Academic Level....14
2.4 Abduction for Ransom..15
Religious Causes.... 16
3.1 Religious Discrimination. 16
3.2 Force conversion.. 17
3.3 Intolerance towards Hindu Religion and Faith.... 19
Economical Causes 20
4.1 Economical Dimensions of Persecution of Hindus. 20

Introduction
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Peace and mercy be upon His last
messenger MUHAMMAD and over his ummah.
Number of countries in the world, some are strongly based on religious fundamentals and rest is
secular. Pakistan was a state got independence from British government and separated from India
in 1947. Muhammad Ali Jinnah consider as a great struggler and father of the nation of this new
born state who struggled his best to get new Muslim state on the basis of two nations theory.
Muslims were landed where they were in majority and same with Hindus. Whilst there were so
many patriotic who did not leave there home land and their ancestors thus both states contain
religious minorities.
Since 1947 Hindus are migrating gradually from Sindh to India on account of different causes
like political instability, economic downfall, social insecurity and unfriendly environment.
Now the current issue thats also my topic Motives and Reasons behind Hindu migration of
Sindh to India is very important for the people of Pakistan to know the motives and reasons
behind the Hindu migration from Sindh to India. Otherwise we are unable to reach the answer of
"why"? It is our duty to understand the fundamental and basic issues through which they are
heeling Pakistan, whereas the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan provides full and
equals rights to all minorities. In this project I will discuss the historical perspective of Hindus in
Sindh and also I will mention the causes of Hindu migration from Sindh to India in current
situation with criticism.
It is our rational obligatory to understand the entire issues facing by Hindus in Sindh because
after the partition of Subcontinent they have become a part of our majority Muslims society and
also it is the duty of new born Islamic state to provide them basic privileges of their lives such as
shelter, food, security, health and education.
The role of Hindu minorities is very important for any state, because they are contributing for the
development and establishing of any country in which they are living. The governments as well
as the concerns departments have to provide them their individual and collective rights so they
do not confront of any problems. My aim is to convey the message to the readers, especially

Hindus to understand the nature of Pakistani people and prejudice would be removed from their
minds.
I pray to Almighty Allah to give me graciousness, that I provide basic and fundamental
knowledge to its readers. I request to those who read it please pray for me, that Allah bestowed
me steadfast in this field.
Thanks you so much.

Chapter One:
Hindus in Sindh Historical Analysis
1. Population of Sindhi Hindus
Population of Hindus in Sindh has great impact on the society of Sindh; there are different
sources which provide us the amount of Hindus in Sindh. Before we go into the detail of causes
behind Hindu migration of Sindh to India we should analyze that what is the population of
Sindhi Hindus in Sindh and we should know their historical perspective. According to the census
report which held in 1998 in Pakistan, the total population of Hindus in Pakistan 24, 43,514.
While1the Hindu council of Pakistan had estimated that there are more than 7000000 Hindus
present in Pakistan and majority of them living in Sindh. Hindus are contributing more than 5.5
percent in the overall population of Pakistan.
Nearly 94 percent of Hindus are living in Sindh Province, and more than 4 percent are living in
Punjab Province of Pakistan, where as a small portion of this population is settled in Balochistan
and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provinces. They are counted as minority in Pakistan and once they
were in majority but later settlements of Arabs, Persians and Turks their population was
decreased. The cause of conversion of Sindhi Hindus was constant decreasing their population as
well. They live mostly in the urban areas of Sindh province.
Before the partition of Pakistan, quarter of the population of Sindh was Hindu but after interreligious violence Hindus living in Sindh elected to migrate to India. Sindhi Hindus joined the
migration, realizing the fear of violence that might spread in their province after Partition. Later
in 1948 most had left Sindh for India, where large numbers settled in Rajasthan, Delhi and
Mumbai. Only Tharparkar district in Sindh has Hindus in majority about 51 per cent.
Minority of Hindus used to live in urban areas while minority of them live in rural areas.
Urbanized Hindus are highly educated peoples with government administrative jobs and some of
them are related to business like, trade, merchant, cloth and give the money on debts to the
1

(Report by Hindu Council of Pakistan), www.pakistan hinducouncil.org.

people. Rural Hindus are formers, labors, masons and carpenters. There are many Hindu social
societies to provide social as well as money assistance to all casts of Hindus.
2. HISTORICAL PRESPECTIVES OF HINDU MIGRATION

When this sub-continent divided into two states and Pakistan came into existence on 14 August
1947. Many Muslims left their forefathers homeland and moved from India to this newly born
state. Meanwhile Hindu community they had a number of population in Sindh migrated to India.
But some families decided to stay and continue their business in Sindh. These families later
renounced as non-Muslim minority of Pakistan.
Before the division this land that is Pakistan had only Hindu population as old as 8500 years ago.
This was the place where the Vedas were written. 2This territory was remained as a Hindu dense
territory over 7000 years and having ancient civilization. In 712 AD Sindh was attacked by
Muhammad Bin Qasim and this area became gateway for Islam in India. According to the census
report of 1941 Hindus were at 20% of the population of this territory currently known as
Pakistan. Now the number of population dropped to less than 2%. Aftermath of 1965 Indo-Pak
war 8000 Hindus were migrated to India. Subsequently this number was increased to 9000 on
account of 1971 war.

3. Civilization of Hindus
Hinduism is unique religion in the world among the religions. It has no founder or state of origin.
Most religions of the world have a specific origin by charismatic leaders. Its a religion of the
people of India which was gradually developed more than 4000 years ago. Its roots date back as
far as 2000 BC makes it as an ancient surviving religion of the world. On account of great
history its early age is unclear. Nevertheless some scholars rely on educated guess based on
archeological studies. In 1921 some archeologist uncovers the evidence of this ancient

Gross Violation of Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan, A study of Migrants Seeking Shelter in India, November 2012.

civilization along with Indus River. The old civilization also known as Harapan Civilization
(Harapa was the chief city for one of its cities). Harapa is considered as originated as far as 7000
BC.
Some writings of this period has been discovered but unfortunately these writings are small in
numbers not enough to find the evidence regarding the origin this religion. The inception of
Indus valley culture was around 1800 BC. During this era of Aryan invaded India and according
to a hypothesis Aryan and Vedic (religion of ancient India) were the foundational members of
Hinduism. Another hypothesis which reveals that between 2000-1500 BC there no invasion but
continues spreading of Aryan-Indo speakers to the eastern and southern parts of India with
growing culture interaction with native peoples. By this process a new culture was emerged by
the end of the second millennium. This particular Aryan ethnicity also found in Regvida. After
the ending of Vedic period Brahaman period was begun about 300 BC. During this time period
social and religious system was developed. That time is usually known as the numerous settled
communities, formal rituals of worship, religious temples and the caste system.
4. Golden time of Sindhi Hindus
The power of Sindhi Hindus came when a British general, conquered Sindh from the Talpur Mirs
with the help of a rich Sindhi, Seth Nomal Bhojwani because his father was kidnapped and illtreated by Muslims and he wanted to end their rule in February 1843. In the result of British
government Hindus were allowed to purchase property in Sindh.
3

The Hindus also came into power because they gained higher education quickly with the help of

British government and they tried to learn languages. They quickly learned English language to
get higher jobs into the administration of British government and they were succeeded. Trade
and commerce, services and education became monopolies in the hands of the minority whom
with the support of rulers.
In 1847 Sindh was under the presidency of Bombay because of British colonialism which
immediately brought two major changes in the history of Sindh. Firstly, the rule was transformed

SINDHI REFLECTIONS,140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani

from Muslims to non-Muslims authorities. Secondly merger of Sindh with Bombay presidency
had affected sindhs geographical, cultural and political isolation from India, which resulted in
the 19th century the emergence of modern, social and political institutions.
During takeover of British the Hindus did not hold any land but after the British success the
retired officers of Hindus were landed by government because majority of Hindus were working
in the administration. After attacking of British, traders of Hindus became so powerful in rest of
the sub-continent and Sindh lost its independence. British were fully supported by the Hindus
and their communication was strong to each other because of that British survived with the help
of Hindus.
Sindh was conquered by the British from their bases in Bombay and Kutch while the Talpurs
were defeated by them. Charles was the commander of the army who became the first governor
of Sindh province. Forty percent of the Muslim land holdings passed on the Hindu creditors
within a few years. After long struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinaaah with his 14points he brought separation of sindhs from Bombay presidency. Many other Indian Muslim
leaders also played their rule thats why Muslims of Sindh succeeded in getting Sindh separated
from the Bombay presidency in 1936.
5. Downfall of Hindus in Sindh
The downfall of Hindus occurred after the separation of Sindh province from the Bombay
presidency by the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1936. After this
movement the Hindus became powerless and voiceless minority in Sindh province. At time of
separation, some of the Hinds leaders including Gobindram Mukhi and Sawami Harinamdasji
raised protests against this movement. 4The Hindus also voted for the separation of Sindh from
the Bombay presidency because they thought that they would gain power and their rights within
the society of Muslims and others were thinking that this move may reduce their hold in the
region.
The foundation of separation was the population strength as the majority of strength was
Muslims so the Hindus had to loss their homeland. Sindh became an autonomous province where
4

SINDHI REFLECTIONS,140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani

the Muslims could perform their political, cultural, religious duties according to their tradition.
The situation of Hindus became critical and also their wealth, property, owner became unsafe. It
became difficult for them to have a sigh of peace because of the violence against them. Due to
this crucial situation of the Hindus they started to move from rural areas in the place where they
find peace.
The Hindus were facing so many problems at that time; they were looted, kidnapped cases and
raped of young girls.5 After sometime some of Hindus have decided to leave Sindh and migrate
to India. The Pakistan became separate state by the hard struggle of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and
got independence from British government in 1947. Muslims were landed where they were in
majority and same with Hindus. Before the separation of Pakistan, Hindus started their migration
to India and gradually they are migrating. After the independence of Pakistan majority of
minority of Hindus migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled down in
Pakistan.
6. Current status of Hindus in Sindh
Since the partition of Pakistan Hindus in Sindh have been facing religious and social persecution.
However they appears to be a steady increase in the situation of rejection of basic fundamental
rights leading to a life in a state and have of fear, pressure and humiliation. Hindus of Sindh are not
provided fundamental rights equally and they cannot perform religious and cultural practices.

Due to religious and social discrimination they seem in every field of life pasturing from education to
livelihood. People of Hindu community who are related with business cannot have their own transport for
the business because their vehicles are snatched on gun point. Their girls could not have education
because their parents remained worried about kidnapping of their girls. When they decide to sell their
property no one is ready to purchase because they want to take over without any cost.

The Hindu people who living in urban areas they are feeling insecurity of their business and also
suffering from kidnapers and robbers of local gangs because they demand protection money.

Those are living in rural areas they have been suffering of economical problems and some of
them are bonded labor by the land lards (Waderas). The rural Hindu communities are much
suffering for their survivals.
The most prominent victims are women and children and worst hit among them are young girls.
They have been chosen to be soft targets for persecution and now they have became the favorite
instruments for ethnic cleansing. Abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages have
become real challenges for them as they believe in Sindh. They are not allowed having jobs into
the armed forces, the judiciary or responsible positions in the civil services.
Discrimination and prejudice against Hindu minority in Sindh are the combine factors within
educational institutions as well as by the state controlled-media Due to all these challenges many
of the Sindhi Hindus have migrated to India and other countries for the survival of their lives.

Chapter Two:
Causes behind Hindu migration from Sindh to India
Since the couple of years, there has been great wave of news of Hindus and their security
situation in Sindh, that took both countries (India and Pakistan) media interacted highlighting
the developing sense of insecurity among Hindus. This is also a historical truth that Hindus in
Sindh are granted with the fact of being original Sindhis and are considered as the real civilized
people of Indus Valley but Hindus do not exist anymore in the same land.
So far it is often assumed, the sense of oneness and peaceful coexistence is no longer to the cause
of Hindu survival, in Sindh. However, the quest of Hindu survival does not bear the entire Hindu
population in this country.
Most of Hindu families still believe themselves to be son of soil and claim to remain in Sindh
even in the entailing critical situation and very few families have recently migrated to India due
to the insecurity in Sindh. Another facts of migration of Hindus from Sindh to India are ritual
migration (go to India on a pilgrimage) and seasonal migration (visit India to meet their families
and friends), families from both sides keep visiting each other in the seasons in a year.
These modes of migration cannot be counted as permanent migration (from Sindh to India) and
also cannot be called its occurrence is due to insecurity. Having sense of insecurity among
Hindus is usually found and this demands them to migrate and it occurs because state has
completely failed to protect the rights of minority groups.
Hindus also facing the economic, social, political and religious problems where every single
citizen of Pakistan is under the menace of daily life as Hindus are recently seen more insecure
than Muslims since they are not merely insecure but have been isolated and deprived to relish the
national privilege of citizenship. According to the Islamic law of minorities, the assurance of life
of a minority is ensured as a prime responsibility of a Muslim. It is the duty of Muslim state to
provide protection to the Hindus in Sindh. Hindu minority is seemed alien in their own

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motherland and they are feeling insecure in the whole country. Since couple of years it has been
another matter of amazement when we find the continual series of incidents like kidnapping of
Hindu girls, killing of businessmen and discrimination to specific Hindus.
1. Political Causes
1.1.Insecurity
There are many families of Hindus leaving Sindh because they are insecure in Sindh and they
feel insecurity living in urban and rural areas. It was published in the print media that more than
seven families had gone to Lahore to cross the border of Pakistan to the India. As it was
mentioned in the Dawn News which reported 6Seven families consisting of 90 men, women
and children belonging to the Hindu community of Jacobabad left for India on Wednesday night,
citing lack of safety and security in Sindh. About six months ago, 52 Hindu families from the
same area had migrated to India by buses.
The 7 families belong to the Thull (Bakhsha Pur and Jacobabad) left by Jaffar Express. They
were seen off by relatives and a large number of people of the community at the Jacobabad
railway station. After reaching Lahore, they planned to enter India at the Wagah border. There
were emotional scenes as elders with tearful eyes said goodbye to them talking to reporters,
Amesh Kumar of Bakhsha Pur said they were businessmen but had been compelled to leave their
motherland because of harassment, lawlessness, lootings and kidnapping of girls. He said he had
wished to live and die in Sindh but he and other people of his community had decided to leave
forever because there was no security of their children.
In the same reports he also said that lawlessness had compelled numbers of his community
members to migrate and Hindu girls are being kidnapped. The representatives of Hindu
community are also not playing their role. He also said that the Sindh was the land of love and
affection and nobody wanted to leave it but the members of his community had been facing
various problems and decided to leave Sindh because of difficult conditions, especially
insecurity.

(By Iftikhar A. Khan), Dawn, 10th August, 2012.

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This may cause to others of Hindu community people if security was not provided to them. From
the same area many families had migrated to India because of insecurity. However the concerns
of security has denied they and they said that full security has been provided to them. They also
claimed that the communities of Sindhi Hindus from Jacobabad are not migrating but they are
going to perform religious rituals and soon they will return back from India.
Another report of insecurity of Hindus was reported that they are treated as second class citizens.
Mohan Lal a Sanghar resident said that, Hindus have no security in the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan and family members have been abducted for ransom twice in a year. He claimed that
they live as second class citizens in their own country and their daughters are not safe. Hindus
have no security in the Islamic republic of Pakistan.
1.2. Government failure:

Many protests were raised in Sindh against the Hindu migration by different political parties that
Hindus are not secure and behind their security there is the failure of provincial government
which is totally failed to give them security. It was also reported in a famous newspaper (The
News) that some people belonging to a political party have raised their voice against the Hindu
migration saying that government has been failed to provide the security and justice to the
minority of Hindus in upper Sindh. It was also a reason which caused for the number of families
to leave their motherland and migrate to India.
It is saddening and hurting for the people of Sindh to see that, on the eve of the August 14,
minorities do not live with a feeling of security in Pakistan, a statement said. The advanced
nations are enjoying global talent and peace where the Sindhi Hindus are being forced to leave
their native place, just because they have became the part of a very successful community said
by political representatives.
The land of Sindh is also belonging to the Sindhi Hindus who are equally owners of the land of
Sindh. They appealed to the Sindhi Hindus not to migrate and leave their motherland and they
also asked to the concerns of the government to provide them full security so that they can live
without any problem. This was also one of reason which caused Hindu migration from Sindh to
India.

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1.3.Failure of law enforcement agencies

It is also failure of police and the concerned departments of agencies in Sindh which may cause
Hindu migration from Sindh to India. The local gangs are involved in many cases of Hindu
minorities and authorities of police are not ready to register complaints. The duty of authorities is
to protect the people but they are totally failed to provide protection to the people of Hindu
minority. Girls, children and businessmen of Hindu community kidnapped by local gangs and
they demand from their parents to pay protection money and often times they are unable to pay
protection money. In the result of that their beloved victims are being murdered. These kinds of
issues forced the people of Hindu community to migrate from Sindh to India.
1.4. No protection for Hindu community
The Sindhi Hindu community claimed that there was no effort from the government to provide
them protection. They also claimed on their representatives who are elected in the parliament of
Pakistan and are on the higher posts. 7President of Hindu community (Babu Mahesh Mukhi)
announced the protection movement whiles his press conference in Karachi reported by Daily
times of Pakistan.

He also claimed against the Sindh Minority Affairs Minister Mohan Lal Kohistani and Excise
and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla that there is not even a single effort by them to
provide protection to Hindu community across Sindh. During the press conference which was
called by MNA Aijaz Jakhrani and provincial minister he has changed all the perceptions and
motives of press conference which was arranged for the issues of Hindu communities. He said
that Hindu community is under threat every time and feeling insecure as a result of that, many
Hindu families had left Sindh and moved to the India and other countries.

He arraigned Kohistani and said that he did not pay attention to solve problems faced by Hindu
community. He said that this issue rose by media that more than 200 Hindu community People
had migrated to India. People try to get visas to perform religious worship in India but after
sometime people may not return to Sindh because of insecurity issues in Sindh. He also said that
our representatives dont visit any family who had lost their members while the MNA Jakhrani
7

(By Asghar Azad) Daily Times, Saturday, August 11, 2012

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denied the media reports during his press conference and rejected the migration of Hindu
community people.

Mr. Jakhrani said that we are fully protecting the minorities in all over country and providing
them all rights especially in Sindh. Sindhi Hindu believes that Sindh is like their motherland and
they do not want to leave it at any cost. He said that may be the Hindus try to escape during their
visiting in India as Muslims escape during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. He said that we protect
Hindus as all other communities.

2. Social causes

2.1.Intolerance towards Hindu customs and traditions

Customs and traditions are very base for the every religion, so for Hindus they have also their
customs and tradition to follow. For Hindus in Sindh it is much difficult for them to follow their
customs and traditions therefore some families have left Sindh and went to India. It was observed
by many Hindu migrants that the urban people may have room for performing their rituals,
tradition and culture but those who live in rural areas they cannot perform their rituals. In the
rural areas, many castes of Hindus living in Sindh, like Bheel and Koolhi.

They told that they were not allowed to perform rituals and traditions and they buried their dead
bodies according to an Islamic way. Sometimes they buried dead bodies in darkness of the night
because they do not find the place where the ceremonies of dead should be performed. A women
(Satroo from tehsil Shaheedabad) 65 years old told a story of her husband when he died, was
denied to bury him just because he was a Hindu priest in a temple.

The family carried his body for the burial several miles in the night. In the urban areas of Sindh
Hindus can bury their dead in the separate place and they can bury according to their traditions
as reported by the one of migrants from Jacobabad city. 8 While the festivals of Holi and Diwali

Gross Violation of Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan, A study of Migrants Seeking Shelter in India, November 2012

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they are strict to celebrate within their homes or reserved places and boundaries, otherwise they
will pay a heavy price for it. Due to these problems they are migrating to the India.

2.2.Bonded Labor:

Bonded labor is also a big reason for the migration of Hindus from Sindh. The lower casts of
Hindus has been bonded in different areas of Sindh, especially Bheels and Kolhis. Bonded
people are also known as debt bondage and it is one of least known forms of slavery today.
When the laborers could not pay demanded loan, their labor became bonded to repayment of a
loan. It was estimated about 1.7 million people in Pakistan. A report of Anti Slavery
International reported that majority of bonded people belong to the Hindu population, including
bonded labor of children as well.
9

The district Umerkot is the one of effected area in Sindh where people of Hindu community

boned. Asian Human Rights Community states The Hindu community in Sindh province, along
borders of India, is from different scheduled castes like Bheel, Kohli and others, and their
women are subjected to abduction, rape, arbitrary arrest, torture, displacement and killings.

The women, children and old age people are more sufferers of the bonded labor. In the districts
of Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot, and Tharparakar the Hindu community people are
made as slaves by the land lards. The bonded people work in many sectors especially agriculture
and forcibly they are charged to work. Local government is totally failed to provide people safety
and security. These issues compelled the people of Hindu community to heel Sindh and migrate
to India.

2.3.Discrimination at academics levels

Discrimination of Hindus at the level of education and academics also caused their migration
from Sindh to India. Hindus who live in urban areas they can easily get higher education and
their literacy level is better than those who live in rural areas. While those who are livings in

(Report of bonded labor), District Umerkot.

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rural areas are facing discrimination about education and there is another fact that they cannot
afford the dues of studies because of poor economical condition.
The urbanized Hindus mostly are related with business and they can easily afford the expenditure
of education. Women of Sindhi Hindus suffering from the harassment at the education level so
that they cannot continue their education to the higher. The women who are keen to the higher
education are not safe from harassment and kidnapping. The literacy rate of women had
decreased much in these days.
Today the presence of Hindus in government jobs in Sindh is nearly zero, same in armed forces
and law enforcement. As we know that without education there is no hope of sustainable life
because education creates awareness in human beings. Without jobs one cannot able to live a
standard life because jobs help in economical growth. These both are the important factors for
the migration of Hindus from Sindh.
2.4.Abduction for ransom
Being a Hindu in Pakistan is not easy to live because the numbers of Hindu community is being
kidnapped in Sindh. Hindus are on the target these days by the local and international gangs.
Often women, children and businessmen are kidnapped and those who kidnap people for ransom
need to be dealt with a heavy hand. Often in Pakistan we see no anymore punishment for this
type of crime that is why it is been increased day by day.
Those who are involved in kidnapping of people, they have connections with powerful people
and also they are supported by police.

10

Mostly the kidnapers never caught by the authorities of

law enforcement agencies. In the result of that Hindus are migrating from Sindh to India because
they feel that it is better to live in other county than Pakistan. It is failure of the government of
Pakistan that its minorities dont feel safe on their own soil.

10

(By Marvi Memon), Being a Hindu in Pakistan, The Express Tribune, October,20,2010

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3. Religious Causes
3.1.Religious Discrimination
Because of many international initiatives, religious migrations are continually increasing even
today. The Hindus in Pakistan particularly in Sindh Province are worst hit as their strength in
respective areas keep decreasing every year. The Hindus in Sindh still have many difficulties to
go back to their homeland although they consider their homeland to Sindh but gradually they are
migrating.

Many of this areas of Sindh, harassed by a growing clout of fanaticism and total failure f
tolerance supported by a culture of terrorism of many types. It is obvious that very short has been
done to address this massive plight of human beings and migration is only the last solution to
become safe as religious people. It was also noticed that with the passage of years of unbearable
torture, harassment and humiliation that are proving the real threats to the values of religious
freedom and equality of Sindhi Hindus.

In this favor, a report of experts of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor that entitled as
11

International Religious Freedom Report for 2011 comments as follows

To think, believe or doubt, to speak or pray together or stand apart. Such are movement of mind
or heart, initiatives that take us beyond the finite. Freedom of religion, like all freedoms of
thought and expression, are inherent. Our beliefs help to define who are and serve as foundation
for what we contribute to our societies. However as 2011, international Religious Freedom
Report documents too that, mostly people of Hindus in Sindh live under the government that
abuse or restrict Freedom of religion. People awaken, work, suffer, celebrate, raise children or
mourn are unable to follow the dictates of their faith or conscience. Yet, under the universal
declaration of Human Rights governments have committed to respect the Freedom of Religion.

Due to these reports we find that Hindus in Sindh suffering from many problems, especially
religious discrimination against the minority of Hindu community. One of the state principles is
11

Gross Violation of Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan, A study of Migrants Seeking Shelter in India, November 2012.

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to provide the fundamental rights to all its living people and community. Non-Muslims can
freely profess and practice their religion. According to the Hindus religious discrimination has
also a big role in the recent migration of their families from Sindh to India.

3.2.Force Conversion
Its wrong misconception which is created through the media of Pakistan these days that
minorities are forcibly converting into Islam by Islamic extremist people and rights of minorities
are not given fully to the minorities in Pakistan. It made very sad when everyone heard about it
because Islam says once when minority come under the Islamic state that must be given full and
equal rights. Let me quoted some references from The Holy Quran and Sunnah and Islam
emphasizing to provide rights to minorities.
The Quranic injunction There is no coercion in religion (2:256) negates the element of
coercion and oppression in religious matters and forms the basis for protection of rights of
minorities. Clearly explained and rejected forcibly conversion of minorities. Islam espouses
values of universal brotherhood, tolerance and mutually peaceful coexistence ordaining its
followers to be the source of peace for people around them. It aims at the establishment of such
an ideal state and society where all citizens, irrespective of their association, religious identity,
race, color and creed, enjoy the similar rights and equality in the eyes of law.
At another place, Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: (So) for you is your religion and for
me is my religion (109:6) The importance and sanctity of rights Islam gives to minorities can be
further gauged by the saying of the Holy Prophet (saw): Beware! If anyone dared oppress a
member of minority community or usurped his right or tortured him more than his endurance or
took something away forcibly without his consent, I would fight (against such Muslim) on his
behalf on the Day of Judgment. (Abu Dawood (3:170).
There are many sources which denied compelling of any minority to accept the Islam. It's clear
that Islam does not allow anyone to force someone or compel someone to accept Islam then the
question is that why these kind of issues raised by media against Muslims and Pakistan. I would
answer that if someone is forced by Islamic extremist to accept Islam that does not mean

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something is wrong with Islamic Laws and principles. These Islamic extremist are also
destroying Pakistan as well as we have seen bomb blasts on Masajids etc, so it mean there is
some other forces behind their purposes not real Muslims behind it.
There are many cases of force conversion of Hindus in Sindh in different areas which were
highlighted by the media of Pakistan and as well international media. After the overview of
Islamic law we will discuss some major cases of force conversion of Hindus, particularly current
cases. These cases also caused Hindu migration from Sindh to India.
Case of Rinkle Kumari, (Faryal Shah)
The community of Hindu claims that the force conversion rate is increases day by day and it
caused their migration from Sindh to India. There was a famous case which was carried
throughout the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the girl named Rinkle Kumari was kidnapped and
forced to convert into Islam by a religious extremist Mian Abdul-Haq, (former M.N.A). Rite
after her conversion into Islam she was married with a Muslim boy, (Naweed Shah).
Rinkle Kumari a 17-years old Hindu girl from the town of Mirpur Mathelo, situated in the
southern province of Sindh. It was one of three cases that that carried through the Supreme Court
of Pakistan. Kumaris parents said that five people broke into their house in late February and
took her away. They said that she was forced to convert to Islam and marry Naweed Shah a
neighbor while Naweed said she accepted Islam willingly.
She was not forced at all, said Shahs lawyer, Malik Qamar Afzal. She embraced Islam freely
and afterward agreed to marry.
She was allowed to meet with their mother at a district court and after her meeting she said that
Rinkle wanted to go with her to home and recalled me For Gods sake, take me away.
Hindu community leaders informed that in some cases, Hindu girls convert and marry Muslim
men willingly. Determining which cases involve coercion has been difficult for authorities.
Hindu community leaders took this case and other cases to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

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They said that often girls are kidnapped and later show up in court and say they have converted.
12

In her press conference which was held in Karachi she said before media of Pakistan, My

name is Sayeda Faryal Bibi, I have embraced Islam without any force and have married Sayed
Naveed Shah of my own free will, Earlier my name was Rinkle Kumari she added.

13

On Aril, 18, 2012, her hearing was in Supreme Court of Pakistan before a three member bench

consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice
Tariq Pervez. She had decided to live with her husband and the decision was announced at the
Registrar Office of the Supreme Court. Two others girls (Dr Lata & Asha Kumari) were also in
Supreme Court on the same day and both of them had decided to live with their Muslim
Husbands. This was the case of her and other two girls which was taken as force conversion but
later the things has been appeared about its reality. Hindu community considers it as a force
conversion and they said that, such incidence resulted migration of Hindus from Sindh to India.
3.3.Intolerance towards Hindu religion and faith

It was also observed through different sources that, the society of Hindus feeling intolerance
towards their faith and religion. They are complained that their sacred places, like temples are
destroyed and burnt at many places. After 1992 when Babri Masjid was demolished numerous
Hindu temples were ransacked, burnt, idols broken and destroyed in Pakistan. The ratio of
migration has been increased after the demolition of Babri Majid. Some temples were also
destructed in Karachi and the residence of the Hindu community said a builder came with police
and destructed a small temple which was the oldest around surrounding buildings on December
2, 2012. One of the members of Hindu council said that there was a long running legal between
residents and builder over the land, but belongs to the Hindu residents.

This was an example of the destruction of Hindu community temple which reflects intolerance
towards their sacred places. The Hindus cannot freely propagate their faith and they cannot

12

(By Dawn News), March, 12, 2012.

13

(By Azam Khan), The Express, Tribune, on April, 12, 2012.

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distribute or publish their literature in any other community. These kinds of act also compel them
to migrate from Sindh to India.

4. Economical Cusses

4.1.Economic dimension of persecution of Hindus:

Economic play keen role for any community where it also play same role for Hindus as well in
Pakistan. As we said that most of population of Hindus living in the Sindh and they have been
suffering economical problems as well. The rural Hindus are more facing than urbanized Hindu
community. This has also caused their migration to India as well other countries.
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The business communities of Hindus are feeling that their property is not safe in Sindh because

of looting and this issue is not only with them but with other communities as well. Most of
Hindus claiming that people of Sindh whom they have given money for agriculture purposes
they have stopped paying them back their dues. In return of their money back they have been
harassed through different ways and in a result they stop asking their dues. They also cannot sell
their property because there is a common perception among them that when a Hindu selling
property that simply mean migrating from Sindh.
People just want their properties, for free. They have no buyers with big demands to sell their
properties. So they sell their property with such low offers. There are many victims of the Hindu
community who faced such kinds of issues around them. They also claimed that behind low
offers there is also another reason that there was a Fatwa by local mosque for Muslims not to buy
their properties. This also reason for their migration.

14

Gross Violation of Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan, A study of Migrants Seeking Shelter in India, November 2012.

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