In Pakistan, the horrific murder of Karitika, a 15-year-old Hindu girl who was raped and her body was dumped in a garbage heap near Dargah Usman Shah, has once again shed light on the perilous conditions faced by religious minorities in the Islamic Republic. Just days earlier, two Hindu girls, Hema (15) and Venti (17), were found hanging from a tree in Islamkot, Tharparkar, Sindh, in another heinous crime against vulnerable minorities.
Such atrocities reflect the grim reality for women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus and Christians. They live in constant fear of abduction, violence, forced conversions, and forced marriages. Many suffer physical assaults, and in the most brutal cases, they are raped and murdered. Disturbingly, justice for such crimes remains elusive as perpetrators escape accountability, shielded by systemic failures and societal complicity.
In Sindh, home to a significant portion of Pakistan’s Hindu population, incidents of abductions and forced conversions of underage girls are rampant. Local reports and human rights organizations frequently document these abuses, yet they receive scant attention from the authorities. Victims and their families often face immense pressure, legal obstacles, and threats, making it nearly impossible to seek justice.
The plight of minorities in Pakistan is exacerbated by a judicial system that sides with perpetrators, particularly in cases involving forced conversions. Courts routinely validate such conversions and marriages under the pretext of “religious freedom,” ignoring the coercion and violence underpinning these acts.
Beyond physical violence, minorities endure systemic discrimination in education, employment, and political representation. Hate speech against non-Muslims is alarmingly common, further entrenching societal prejudices. The state’s failure to protect its minorities starkly contrasts with its constitutional claims of equality and justice.
The murders of Karitika, Hema, and Venti are not just individual tragedies; they are a damning indictment of Pakistan’s institutionalized neglect and active oppression of its minority communities. Until the Paki establishment confronts its deeply ingrained biases and reforms its governance structures, the lives and rights of millions of its citizens will remain in peril.