In a significant development, an FIR has been registered for the first time in the history of the Digri Police Station under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, marking a small victory for activists like Shiva Kachi and the Central Chairman of the Minority Rights Organization, who have long advocated for the protection of religious minorities in the region. This action comes amid a disturbing backdrop of forced conversions and child marriages targeting vulnerable communities, particularly Hindus.
The case at hand involves Meena Lohar, a minor Hindu girl of 7th standard who was abducted, forcibly converted, and married off against her will. Family members of Meena arrived at the Pakistan Dravidian Union’s head office in Sindh to file the FIR, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation. IG Sindh, Ghulam Nabi Memon, has pledged to ensure the enforcement of laws aimed at preventing early marriage and protecting minority rights.
As 15 days have passed since Meena’s abduction, the lack of decisive action by the authorities shows their lack of intention to safeguard minority rights. The Paki establishment continues to conspire against the life, safety and dignity of its minority citizens.
However, this incident is not just a singular case; it is emblematic of a larger, systemic issue plaguing Pakistan’s religious minorities. The ongoing persecution and radicalization against Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs highlight a deeply entrenched extremist mindset within the Islamic Republic, where the belief that minorities should be forcibly converted to Islam prevails.
The case of Meena Lohar serves as a chilling reminder of the precarious position religious minorities find themselves in. Instead of protecting its citizens, the Paki establishment allows radical elements to thrive. While the registration of the FIR is a step forward, it cannot mask the larger crisis that religious minorities face in Pakistan.