Pakistan on Saturday launched an investigation into the migration of Hindu families to India due to insecurity and discrimination in this predominantly Muslim country.
“The investigation has been started as directed by President Zardari to seek the causes behind the Hindus exodus,” a senior government official told this newspaper. On Friday night, President Zardari, taking serious notice of reports of a sense of insecurity among Hindu families in Sindh, had directed the authorities concerned to allay the Hindus’ grievances and submit a report to him.
The President’s spokesperson, Senator Farhatullah Babar, said Mr Zardari also constituted a three-member committee of parliamentarians to visit different parts of Sindh to express solidarity with the Hindus on behalf of him and his government and to reassure them about their security and well-being. The committee comprises Senator Hari Ram, National Assembly member Lal Chand and federal minister Moula Bakhsh Chandio, he said.
“The President has directed that anyone involved in harassing Hindus or any other minority should be taken to task,” said another official.
National Minorities’ Day was observed throughout Pakistan on Saturday. President Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure equal treatment for all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste and creed.
President Zardari said it was on this day in 1947 that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his historic address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, outlined the contours of a modern and tolerant Pakistan.
President Zardari said the present democratic government, inspired by the vision of its great leaders, has already taken a number of steps to integrate people of all faiths into the national mainstream.