Govt urged to protect religious minorities at home than pointing fingers at others

 Shazia Mehboob

 

The killing of Pooja Kumari, a Hindu girl, for resisting her abduction, forcible conversion and forced marriage coincided with the OIC conference hosted by Pakistan.

The conference discussed issues faced by Muslims abroad. Whilst this being very pertinent, Pakistan was also reminded of the atrocities being perceptually committed against minorities at home. 

 

It is heartening to note that the incident of Pooja Kumari has been widely condemned by the civil society and individuals on the social and mainstream media. The human rights groups have demanded of authorities to ensure an impartial investigation into the incident for the due process of law to take place.

The incidents forced conversion increased by 80% as compared to 2020 &50% as compared to 2019: CSJ

In a statement issued in Lahore, Wajahat Masood and Peter Jacob, the Chairperson and Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, have criticised the consistent failure of the government to tackle religion and gender-based violence in the country.

They urged the government “to adopt policy and implement a National Action Plan (NAP) to address extremism, violence, and persecution of minorities.” 

 

They asserted that forced conversions violates the citizens’ religious freedom and undermine religious diversity of Pakistan, therefore, the government should address the impunity associated with the practice.” 

 78 cases of forced or involuntary conversions involving 39 Hindu, 38 Christian, and one Sikh girl were reported during 2021: CSJ

 The data collected by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) revealed that at least 78 cases of forced or involuntary conversions involving 39 Hindu, 38 Christian, and one Sikh girl were reported during 2021, including 40 cases in Sindh, 36 in Punjab and one case each in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and C. 

 

The incidents increased by 80 percent as compared to 2020 and 50 percent as compared to 2019. Notably, 33 percent of victims were 14 years of age or below, and 76 percent of the victims were minors (below 18 years of age), furthermore, the age of 18 percent was not mentioned, there is reason to believe that 94 percent victims were minors. 

 

The CSJ’s statement also challenged the narrative that   the incidents of conversions were basically love-marriages contracted after voluntary conversions to Islam.

The change of faith largely by underage girls speaks volumes of the vulnerability of the converts, and the motivation of perpetrators behind.

The CSJ statement states “The change of faith largely by underage girls speaks volumes of the vulnerability of the converts, and the motivation of perpetrators behind.

The religious freedom of all citizens is protected under Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan; therefore it is illegal and unethical to compel minorities to change their faith by use of threat, coercion, or manipulation”.

 

The organization observed that the minority girls and women are targeted because of their social and material vulnerabilities, thus, unable to avail access to justice. The perpetrators are consistently able to manipulate the justice system and get away with their crimes.

CSJ demanded the government to implement the Islamabad High Court’s declaration which makes marriages of those under18 years of age unlawful, even of their own free will. 

 

It is imperative for the legislature reviews the existing legal remedies given that the Federal Shariat Court’s has held that setting of a minimum legal marriageable by the Federal government is an Islamic act.

The lack of enforcement of existing domestic laws particularly Sections 375, 376, 493-A, 498-B, and 466 of the PPC was a key impediment in preventing such practices: CSJ

Given this, the legislature should not hesitate to bring an amendment to the existing laws to prevent child marriages at same time related administrative, and procedural measures for effective implementation on the protection of vulnerable citizens.

 

The statement added that the lack of enforcement of existing domestic laws particularly Sections 375, 376, 493-A, 498-B, and 466 of the Pakistan Penal Code was a key impediment in preventing such practices.

Therefore, the government must introduce and implement effective legal and administrative safeguards to protect minorities against crimes involving forced conversions, child /forced marriages and sexual violence in Pakistan.