The two minor Hindu sisters were allegedly kidnapped and forcibly married after being converted to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province on the eve of Holi.
Amid outrage over abduction, conversion and forced marriage of two minor Hindu sisters in Pakistan's Sindh province, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday sought a report from Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.
The two minor Hindu sisters were allegedly kidnapped and forcibly married after being converted to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province, triggering protests by the minority community.
The two girls, 13-year-old Raveena and 15-year-old Reena, were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in Ghotki district on the eve of Holi.
Just in: India sends an official note to Pak Foreign office; shares its concerns on abduction of 2 Hindu girls.Calls for suitable remedial action be taken by Pak govt to "protect & promote safety, security & welfare of it's own citizens, especially from the minority communities".
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 24, 2019
Here is all you need to know about the case:
1. EAM seeks report from Indian envoy on forced marriage of Pak Hindu girls
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"I have asked Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan to send a report on this," Sushma Swaraj said.
"Ma'am, we are aware of this case and sending details shortly," Indian High Commission in Pakistan replied.
2. Our internal issue, says Pak minister
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"Ma'am its Pakistan's internal issue and rest assured it's not Modi’s India where minorities are subjugated. It's Imran Khan’s Naya Pak where white colour of our flag is equally dearer to us. I hope you ll act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian Minorities," Fawad Chaudhary, Pakistan's Information Minister, said.
3. Swaraj hits back
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"Mr.Minister @fawadchaudhry - I only asked for a report from Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad about the kidnapping and forced conversion of two minor Hindu girls to Islam. This was enough to make you jittery. This only shows your guilty conscience," Swaraj hit back.
4. What is the case
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Two minor Hindu sisters were allegedly kidnapped and forcibly married after being converted to Islam in Pakistan's Sindh province, triggering protests by the minority community.
The two girls, 13-year-old Raveena and 15-year-old Reena, were allegedly kidnapped by a group of "influential" men from their home in Ghotki district on the eve of Holi.
Soon after the kidnapping, a video went viral in which a cleric was purportedly shown soleminising the Nikah (marriage) of the two girls.
Later another video surfaced in which the two sisters claimed they embraced Islam themselves and no one forced them to covert or get married.
5. Protests in Pakistan
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The Hindu community in Pakistan has carried out massive demonstrations calling for strict action to be taken against those responsible, while reminding Prime Minister Imran Khan of his promises to the minorities of the country.
Sanjesh Dhanja, President of Pakistan Hindu Sewa Welfare Trust, an NGO, called on Prime Minister Khan to take note of the incident and prove to everyone that minorities were indeed safe and secure in Pakistan.
The truth is minorities suffer from different sorts of persecution and the problem of young Hindu girls being kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to convert to Islam or get married to much older men is widespread in Sindh, he said.
Dhanja said the Hindu community had staged several sit-ins in Ghotki district after which police reluctantly registered FIR against the accused persons.
The Hindu community leaders have claimed that the accused belonged to the Kohbar and Malik tribes in the area.
6. One arrested, says Police
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Following the incident, an FIR was filed by the girls' brother, alleging that their father had an altercation with the accused sometime ago and on the eve of Holi they armed with pistols forcibly entered their home and took the sisters away.
A Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Nand Kumar Goklani, who had initially moved a bill against forced conversions, urged the government to get the law passed immediately.
We demand the government to take up my bill and get it passed without any delay, he said.
Goklani said: "The fact that the two girls were underage confirmed it was a crime and they couldn't show free will on getting married or conversion to Islam".
"One of the accused persons has been arrested, while the police were conducting raids to arrest the others," a senior police official of Ghotki district said.
7. Imran Khan issues instructions to Punajb CM
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In a statement, Pakistan's Minister for information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhary said, "Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued instructions to Punjab CM that the Hindu girls abducted from Sindh are reportedly in Rahim Yar Khan and he must immediately look into the matter. If so, then the girls should immediately be recovered. PM has also instructed Sindh and Punjab governments to formulate a joint strategy on the matter in order to avert such incidents in the future."
"In Pakistan, the minorities are the white in our flag, all colours are dear to us and to protect our flag is our responsibility and obligation," Chaudhary said.
