In Pakistan, atrocities against minority women worsen; forced conversion cases surge

In latest revelation uncovering atrocities faced by mirity women in Pakistan, around 1,000 women belonging to Christian and Hindu communities are forced to convert to Islam every year. Ashiknaz Khokhar, a human rights activist has ted that kidnapping of mir girls from religious mirities is a common occurrence in Pakistan, as per Greek city Times. Khokhar also said that Pakistan government is t taking issue of forced conversions seriously and parliament recently even refused to pass bill on issue. 

He reportedly said, “ (Pakistan) government is t taking this issue seriously and parliament recently refused to pass bill on forced conversion.”

“Every year about 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls are forced to convert to Islam. re is a dire need for a dedicated law to protect mirity girls."

Citing ar incident from Pakistan’s Punjab province, media outlet also reported that one more Christian girl was abducted by a Muslim in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Mentioning a report by Asia News, Greek City Times stated that 12-year-old Meerab Abbas was taken by Muhammad Daud, a native of Pakistani province of Balochistan. 

6,754 women abducted in first half of 2021

suffering that women in Pakistan are subjected to is increasing each day. latest report has stated that around 6,754 women were kidnapped in country’s Punjab province in first half of 2021. Out of those, 1,890 women were raped, 3,721 were tortured and 752 children were raped, according to Duniya News. fresh report came on 30 August after  board of Trustees of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) flagged its concerns over increasing attacks on women in country.

As per media report, in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, re were nearly 34 official incidents of rape but only 27 incidents were widely reported in media. Furrmore, while number of official incidents of violence recorded in Punjab was 3,721, only 938 cases were reported in media in country. 

Earlier in August this year, TIP Vice-Chairperson Justice (R) Nasirah Iqbal has also ted that Pakistan’s founding far Muhammad Ali Jinnah had hopes that both men and women would work in synergy but authorities failed to work on decades-old vision. She stressed that for women in Pakistan to feel safe, perpetrators of crimes against m must be brought to justice. Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) annual report released in June, this year raised alarm over situation of women in country. 

(IM: Pixabay/Representative)