According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics,
Hindus make about 1.60%[1] of all of Pakistan’s
population. At the time of independence, there was a sizeable population of
Hindus in the areas that became part of Pakistan but majority of them opted for
India. However, still a lot of Hindus were living in the Eastern wing of the
country but after the dismemberment of Pakistan, the province of Sindh became the
largest province to house Hindu population; Hindus make about 6.51% of Sindh’s
total population.[2]
In the near past, many Hindu families have
migrated from Sindh to India. India is the natural destination for the
Pakistani Hindus as they share religious, cultural and familial ties there. The
majority of Pakistani Hindus have settled in the Indian states of Gujrat and
Rajasthan; both these states share a border with the Pakistani province of
Sindh too.
However, for the migrants things have not been
all that great in India. As India is not a signatory of UN Refugee Convention.
So, the migrants have to live in make shift camps without any electricity and
water. Above that they are suspected for being Pakistani spies and the Indian
agencies closely monitor their movement. Getting Indian citizenship is also not
easy as it comprises of strict and lengthy procedure, the migrants have to bear
a life that is, in short, miserable and difficult. Although the Indian
government has taken steps to fast track the process of acquiring Indian
citizenship but it is still far from producing the desired results.
The real questions here are why this is
happening and what the state and citizenry of Pakistan should do about it?
Pakistan repeatedly reiterates that the Hindus
are safe in Pakistan, they enjoy religious freedom and all this is mere Indian
propaganda to malign Pakistan’s image and to divert world’s attention from the
atrocities faced by the Indian minorities at the hands of Hindu extremists.
However, all is not false propaganda or mere exaggeration. This situation is an
outcome of many stimulants and the major ones are discussed below.
Firstly, extremism is on rise everywhere in
the world, Pakistan in general and Sindh in specific are no exception.
Secondly, Sindh has a very secular history but today it is not the reference
point. The reference point is the bitter partition of 1947 which caused the
unfortunate communal riots which took lives of many men, women and children
from both the sides (i.e. Hindus & Muslims). Thirdly, in certain parts of
interior Sindh, the Hindus do enjoy political and social power; their position
makes them susceptible to this kind of defiance. Fourthly, the competition over
the economic opportunities, there will be less competition once the Hindus will
not be there to claim it. Fifthly, the cultural compatibility is another reason
as the Hindus find more cultural affinity in India than in Pakistan. Sixthly,
the maltreatment meted out to the Indian Muslims causes irritation, which is
eventually vented out on the Pakistani Hindus.
The frustration has been manifested in the
shape of forced conversions, abduction for ransom of the Hindu traders and
their families hate speech and the eventual migration of Hindus to India.
It is important to note that the government is
not all ignorant of this situation and has shown some concern. Sindh provincial
assembly did pass a bill namely “the protection of minorities’ bill” earlier
this year. The bill sets an age for marriage and conversion and punishment for
forced conversion but due to the pressure from the religious parties and due to
some other political compulsions, the bill has been swept under the carpet in
the name of “review”. It is imperative that the government should take a stand
and that bill should be implemented in its letter and spirit. However, the
government should not only stop at passing a bill but it should do more in this
regard.
The Federal government should take actions to
facilitate the return of willing Hindu migrants from India. Pakistan’s High
Commission in India can act as a liaison in this regard. The government should take
all necessary actions to rehabilitate them upon their return and take steps to
ensure their security and well-being.
Special task forces should be established with
members from both the Hindu community and the local civil authorities to
address the grievances of Hindus at the grass root level and also to chalk out
plans to improve the condition of the Pakistani Hindus.
Places situated in Pakistan that are sacred to
Hinduism, should be preserved, renovated and open for carrying out religious
activities. This will not only strengthen Pakistan’s Hindu connection but the
national exchequer will also benefit from the religious tourism.
The buck stops at the government and they have
to realize that they are responsible to their people irrespective of their
creed and race. They are the ultimate power in the country. The law provides
safeguards to our minorities and the government should make this their priority
that these safeguards are rightfully provided to the minorities and it should
also school the majority to respect the rights of the minorities. This is the
only way through which they can realize Quaid’s vision of Pakistan.
( A version of this piece has been published by Express Tribune in their blog section on 25th August 2017)
( A version of this piece has been published by Express Tribune in their blog section on 25th August 2017)
[1]
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, http://www.pbs.gov.pk/content/population-religion,
approached on 01/08/2017
[2]
ibid