Pakistan : Pakistani Hindus are angry at the newly passed Hindu Marriage Bill as it has provisions that could lead to forced conversions.
The protest was arranged by Sindhi Hindu Students org (SHSO) and the And Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF) in front of the Press club Hyderabad dated 15.02.2016.
This protest was done against a provision in the Hindu Marriage Bill, being hailed as ‘iconic’ in the Islamic country, and a demand was raised to remove a clause that will help Islamists in the country in going ahead with random conversions.
Hindu protestors said that they want the Clause 12(iii) removed which says a Hindu marriage can be annulled if any of the spouses converts to another religion.
Many protesters find this clause a human rights violation while some commentators believe that this Bill is just an eyewash and to satisfy the world and will not help the Hindus really.
It should be remembered that the Pakistani Hindus are one of the most affected due to forced conversions of minor boys and girls who are abducted by vested interests and enjoy tacit support of the Pakistani society which sees conversion as an important aspect of keeping minorities in check.
The forced conversion cases have started coming to light after the infamous abduction and forceful conversion of Hindu girl Rinkle Kumari, who was converted by Mian Mithoo a spiritual and political leader who enjoys mass support.
As in Rinkle Kumari’s case elements who kidnap teenage girls present them in Pakistani courts along with a certificate that the girl had married after converting to Islam, that she is a minor does not hold any waters as the conversion is a moment of celebration, not applying thought.
Mian Mithoo had converted Rinkle Kumari when he was an MNA (Member of National Assembly) from Pakistan People’s Party which was once headed by a woman, Benazir Bhutto, and now has Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the helm along with his father.
The forced conversion cases of minor Hindu girls have led Hindus to leave Pakistan and migrate to India.
Earlier news of 12-years old Samjo Kolhi and 16-years old Sonari Kolhi by five armed people who belonged to the Holipoto community had also come to light.
But perhaps the cruelest joke is that the National Assembly standing committee of Pakistan, which held a meeting on February 8 witnessed serious opposition to the deletion of the above-mentioned clause by Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani, the JUI-F MNA and chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).
Why Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani was there when the matter relates to the Hindu community alone?
Shugufta Jumani of the secular PPP and Ali Mohammad of the Imran Khan led PTI had also said that if any of the spouses converts to Islam the marriage should be terminated.
Only time will tell if the protests by Pakistani Hindus will bear any fruits.
Source : Current Triggers
