Minor Hindu girl Maya, daughter of Bagho Kohli, resident of village Haji Muhammad Salah Nizamani, District Tando Muhammad Khan, Sindh, was abducted from her home. She was forcibly converted to Islam by Peer Agha Jaan Sarhandi at the Dargah Gulzar-e-Khalil in Samaro, 95 km away, and married to Abid Ali, son of (s/o) Muhammad Ramzan Sand. The nikah was solemnized in the Mirpurkhas court.

After Maya was abducted, her parents called the police and sought justice for their daughter. The family is now in a distressed and powerless situation because the police have not registered an FIR despite their best attempts.

Pakistani Hindu minority rights groups have been incensed and condemned widely Maya’s kidnapping and forced conversion. These organizations stress that Maya’s situation is not a unique one; such instances occur frequently in Pakistani minority communities. Girls are abducted against their will. Once her religion is converted, the girl is forcibly married off to a man twice her age.

A flagrant violation of human rights and religious freedom are repeated instances of forced religious conversion and marriage of minor girls from minority communities,” said human rights attorney Shiva Kutchi. Authorities are required to maintain justice values and guarantee the safety of the weaker members of society. Action should be taken in concrete ways. The activist added that one should demand equality.

The lack of public and media attention to these issues makes the situation for minority communities much worse. We should unite the Hindu community and urge everyone to unite in addressing these issues nationally and internationally, using media and social media to voice our concerns and exert pressure on the government to intervene and deliver justice to the Hindu minorities of Pakistan.