A minor Hindu girl from Umarkot, Sindh, has been abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to an adult Muslim man. Last week a 14-year-old Muskan Kumari was also abducted from Dholi Chowk, Ghouspur in Pakistan’s Sindh province. These case highlight the growing issue of abductions and forced conversions of Hindu girls in Pakistan, particularly in regions with large Hindu populations such as Thar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Ghotki, and Khairpur.
Rights groups estimate that around 1,000 Hindu girls have been abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in recent years, often after being sexually exploited.
However, Hindu leaders and community members in Pakistan express concern that the actual number of abductions and assaults may be even higher, as many victims come from impoverished backgrounds and numerous cases remain unreported.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan, where such incidents have become a serious concern, particularly affecting the Hindu community, which largely comprises laborers in these areas.