Islamabad: The Hindu population in Pakistan has declined to 1.7% from 14.6% in 1941, with violence, forced religious conversions and displacement contributing to the community’s declining presence, according to a report by British Hindu organisation Insight UK.
The report highlighted the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus, alleging that thousands of Hindu families were displaced during and after the 1947 Partition and lost their ancestral homes, agricultural land and other properties.
It further claimed that the takeover of properties belonging to families who migrated to India under Pakistan’s enemy property laws significantly weakened the economic condition of the Hindu community.
The organisation also raised concerns over constitutional restrictions on minorities, pointing to Articles 41 and 91 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which reserve the offices of President and Prime Minister for Muslims. A proposed amendment to remove these restrictions in 2019 reportedly failed to make progress.
The report also highlighted difficulties surrounding religious freedom, including the requirement for citizens to declare their religion while applying for passports. It cited the stalled construction of a Hindu temple in Islamabad, which received approval in 2020 but was subsequently halted following opposition from Islamic organisations.
Raising concerns over the safety of minority women and girls, Insight UK alleged that more than 1,000 Hindu and Christian women and girls are abducted annually and subjected to forced religious conversions and marriages. It also pointed to the difficulties faced by victims, particularly minors from economically disadvantaged families, in accessing justice.
The organisation has urged the British government to take concrete measures to safeguard religious minorities in Pakistan.
Its five recommendations include setting deadlines for temple protection and speedy hearings in religious cases, linking British financial assistance to improvements in human rights, and appointing two minority representatives at the British High Commission in Islamabad to monitor discrimination and violence.
It has also called for a report every six months on the social and economic conditions of religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Sikhs, and the creation of safe asylum pathways in the United Kingdom for victims of religious persecution and forced conversions.
