Minorities living in Pakistan are living under a ‘fear psychosis’ of murder, abduction and forced marriages by the majority Muslims.
The Indian government should take up the matter with its counterpart in Pakistan, said opposition leader V K Malhotra on Friday.
“Pakistani government always washes its hands of the frequent Hindu–Sikh killings, kidnappings and demolition of temples in Pakistan,” said Malhotra at a seminar on ‘plight of minorities in Pakistan’.
“Due to anti-minority stand of Pakistani government, some Hindu families were forced to migrate to India. But they are now living in fear psychosis for the safety of their relatives, who were left behind in Pakistan.”
At the time of Partition, there were 75 lakh Hindus and Sikhs, 22 per cent of the population in Pakistan.
But as of now their population has come down to just 1.7 per cent.
Former MP and senior journalist Shahid Siddiqui, Goa MLA Vincent Lobo and Munawar Leghari, Muslim Rashtriya Manch Convenor Mohd Afzal were present.
Quoting Pakistan Human Right Commission report, Siddiqui said every month about 25 to 30 Hindu girls are abducted, converted and married-off to Muslim boys.
He also criticised demolition of temples in Pakistan. “In 2012 alone four Hindu temples have been razed down in Rawalpindi, Karachi, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir area of Maneshra,” said Siddiqui.
“Last month a 200-year-old temple has been demolished in Karachi. This is shameful.”
Siddiqui demanded that Pakistan government should ensure safety to every citizen living in its country irrespective of religion.
The programme was conducted by Supreme Court advocate Pinky Anand.