Pakistan Hindus seek PM Nawaz Sharif's support against atrocities

A Hindu representative body in Pakistan has sought support from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the formation of an inter-faith committee in an effort to end rising atrocities against religious minorities in the country, days after a Christian couple were burnt to death.

The Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) has proposed setting up of an active interfaith committee at the federal level under Sharif to prevent incidents of violence against minorities and promote interfaith harmony. The Dawn reported that the executive committee of the PHC met yesterday in Karachi to review mounting atrocities against religious minorities across the country. It condemned the brutal killing of a Christian couple in Lahore for alleged blasphemy, which created fear and increased sense of insecurity among members of the minorities.

The meeting, presided over by PHC president Chela Ram Kewlani, condemned the kidnapping of Hindu minor girls. Highlighting the need for interfaith harmony and legislation for a Hindu marriage law, the PHC called upon the prime minister and provincial chief ministers to ensure effective implementation of laws to protect minority rights. The meeting proposed that state minister for religious affairs Amin-ul-Hasnat Shah, prominent minority figures and at least one member from each religious party, including the Jamaat-i-Islami, be part of the interfaith committee.