Hindus being abducted for conversion in Pakistan

The religious minorities in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, particularly Hindus, are increasingly being kidnapped for ransom and forced to convert to Islam, says a report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

As many as 50 people belonging to the Hindu community were kidnapped over the past three years and were freed after paying large sums of money in ransom, according to the report prepared by the Balochistan chapter of the HRCP. The report expressed serious concerns over other human rights matters in the province, such as missing persons turning up as bullet riddled bodies and incidences of target killing.

It also said that political activities to mobilise public opinion in Balochistan have come to a standstill, as no major political parties hold gatherings and rallies because of the current law and order situation.

“Many Hindus have now stopped sending their children to school because of a lack of security. Traders, doctors and retailers are being kidnapped or threatened. The son of a well-known Hindu doctor was recently kidnapped. But most victims do not file a criminal case against their abductors out of fear,” the report said.

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