PAKISTAN: Young Hindu was abducted from police station by a religious mob and his whereabouts are unknown. Police refuse to investigate

By Mohammad S.Solanki (executive editor)
Thursday, May 19, 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Krishna Kumar
Date: Thu, May 19, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Subject: PAKISTAN: Young Hindu was abducted from police station by a religious mob and his whereabouts are unknown. Police refuse to investigate
To: publicmail@president.gov.pk


Dear Mr. Asif Ali Zardari,

PAKISTAN: Young Hindu was abducted from police station by a religious mob and his whereabouts are unknown. Police refuse to investigate

Name of victims:
1.Mr. Mohabat Mal (22) son of Veero Mal, resident of Darhio Colony, opposite Tahir Hotel, Ring Road Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
2. Mr. Veero Mal, father of the victim, resident of Darhio Colony, opposite Tahir Hotel, Ring Road Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
3. Mr. Pyro Mal, maternal uncle of the victim, resident of Darhio Colony, opposite Tahir Hotel, Ring Road Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
4. Mr. Parro Mal, maternal uncle of victim, resident of Darhio Colony, opposite Tahir Hotel, Ring Road Mirpurkhas, Sindh province

Names of alleged perpetrators:
1.Maulvi Ahtesham Pathan, Pesh Imam (mosque leader) of Madani Masjid, Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
2. Maulvi Iftekhar Punjabi, resident of Madani Masjid, Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
3. Maulvi Maqsood Punjabi, resident of Madani Masjid, Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
4. Inspector Javed Pathan, station House Office (SHO), Satellite town police station, Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
5. Mr. Kanwar Singh Thakur, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Mirpurkhas, Sindh province
6. Mr. Riaz Ahmed Soomro, district police officer (DPO) Mirpurkhas district, Sindh province
Date of incident: August 13, 2010
Place of incident: Satellite Town, Mirpurkhas, Sindh province

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the abduction and rape of a young Hindu man by a Muslim fundamentalist group and the indifferent attitude of the district police of Mirpurkhas to take legal action against the perpetrators.

I am shocked to know that a group from Madani Masjid (mosque) under the leadership of its Pesh Imam (mosque leader) abducted a young Hindu in order to force him to convert his religion. The victim was raped during his nine month’s captivity and was forced to sign plain papers that he has left the Hindu religion and converted to Islam. This practice had been common now for many years in the some areas of Sindh province bordering India where a sizable Hindu community live and are from scheduled castes.

I want to bring in your attention the case of Mr. Mohabat Mal son of Veero Mal, resident of Darhio Colony, opposite Tahir Hotel, Ring Road Mirpurkhas, Sindh province, was pursued by a group of Muslim religious leaders of the Madani mosque, Mirpurkhas, on August 13, 2010, the first day of holy month of Ramadan, to change his religion as they wanted to arrange his marriage with a girl from the Muslim community and would also provide a good social status as he was from Dalit community, a scheduled cast section of the Hindu religion. Mohabat Mal went along with Maulvi Ahtesham Patham, the leader of the mosque and his two accomplices, Maulvi Iftekhar Punjabi and Maqsood Punjabi. The victim was forced to sign the plain papers for his conversion. After some resistance from him the man was locked in the house of Ahtesham, adjacent to the mosque.

I am also informed that on April 4, 2011 he managed to run away from their custody and reached his house where he told his parents that he was abducted and sodomised by the Mosque leader and he was forced to sign plain papers and was declared as Muslim. The parents tried to file a complaint in the police station but some policemen informed the mosque leader. The mosque leader with more than 100 persons attacked his house and threatened the parents that they would face more trouble if they ever try to file the case. In the meanwhile Mohabat Mal contacted one Hindu community based human rights organization at Hyderabad, 70 kilometers from his city, the Mirpurkhas, to help him. The organization managed a lawyer who prepared a petition for Sindh High Court, Hyderabad, against his forced conversion of religion and his rape during his nine months of captivity. One day before the filing of the petition more than hundred people under the leadership of Pathan and other perpetrators attacked his house in Mirpukhas and the family was made hostage. The family was forced to contact Mohabat to surrender himself to them. The family also contacted police and police officials including the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Satellite Police Station, Mirpurkhas. Inspector Javed Pathan, assured the family that if victim surrender to the police then they will take him before the session court and record his statement. On police assurance he was contacted the next day by the parents to come to the house and present himself to the police. At this time he was at the high court to file the petition against the rapist and abductors but he left quickly to attend his family and record his statement. On the same day, May 12, he went to police station where a big mob amounting to hundreds of people were gathered outside. The police took him inside the police station to record his statement before producing him in session’s court. Mosque leader, Ahtesham Pathan, delivered a fiery speech outside the police station and suddenly the mob entered the police station and took him out by passing overhead from hand to hand.

I am distressed to learn the police provided the lame excuse for failing to take action by saying that he is Muslim and the agitators will produce him before the session’s court. The police once again when confronted by religious extremists remained silent spectators. The District Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Riaz Ahmed Soomro, and Mr. Kanwar Singh Thakar, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) arrived at the scene but told the family members that they cannot stop the mob as there are chances of Hindu/Muslim riots. The police did not follow the mob when they took the victim and the mob continuously announced that the victim was their new Muslim friend when they took away him to an unknown destination. Since then his whereabouts are unknown and police stopped the investigation as the victim has become Muslim and he would be in better environment. The lawyer and activists of Hindu community have several times contacted the police high officials of the district to recover him but the police told them that they have his signed papers which claim that he has converted to Muslim so they cannot do anything in the case.

Amazingly, in order to look as if they were taking action the police arrested the victim's father, Veero Mal, his two maternal uncles, Mr. Pyaro Mal and Mr. Parro Mal on the complaint of Pathan, the mosque leader, that they had abducted victim and kept him in illegal captivity. This complaint was filed when first time Mohabat Mal ran away from the captivity of mosque leader.

I am gravely concerned that it is a common practice in Sindh province where the ruling party received the majority votes and which claims to be the custodians of the interests of religious minority groups. The constitution and Pakistan Penal Code provide all constitutional and legal protection to religious minority groups. But the government has left the minority groups without any protection and given freedom to fundamentalist groups to use force against the minorities with the connivance of police.

Pakistan has also ratified the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and its following are articles are violated through their negligence of the provincial government and police; Article 10 all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. Article17-1. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation 2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. Article 18- 1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. 2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

I hope that you will follow the constitutional and legal rights of the members of religious minority groups and would also follow the ICCPR article which was ratified by the government of Pakistan.

I urge you to take action for the recovery of Mr. Mohabat Mal who was abducted by the Muslim fundamentalist groups and would also provide protection to him and his family. I also urge to prosecute the perpetrators and police officers of the district Mirpurkhar district who covertly supporting the Muslim extremist groups of the district to forcefully converting the religion of members of the Hindu community.

I look forward to your prompt response and action in this case.

Yours sincerely,

Krishna Kumar (PHP)
Pakistan

Abducted Hindu leader released in Kalat of Balochistan, Pakistan

By Gopinath Kumar (editor-in-chief)
Friday, March 25, 2011

(Photo : Maharaj Garji (82), the abducted Hindu spiritual leader in Balochistan, Pakistan now has been released)

QUETTA : Hindu religious leader Maharaj Lakshmi Chand Garji (82) and his companion Venud Kumar were released in the early hours of Friday near Surab area of Kalat district. Maharaj of had been kidnapped, along with his four companions, on December 21, 2010, near Surab.

The abductors had released three people within hours while continued to detain Maharaj and Venud Kumar, son of a well-known trader based in Quetta. Talking to Daily Times, relatives of Maharaj said that the recovery took place without paying any ransom to the kidnappers. “We were locked in a small dark room. Our hands were tied with rope and we were blindfolded for 95 days. They did not even talk to me despite my frequent attempts,” Kumar told this scribe.

The release of Maharaj made the Hindu community in Kalat jubilant. He was brought to Kali Mandir, which was thronged by hundreds of people, who asked about his health. Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said that the kidnappers had freed Maharaj and denied that any sort of money had been paid to kidnappers. “Maharaj and Venud Kumar were released at a desolate place near Surab at 2:00am,” he added. He said that kidnappers had been identified and efforts were underway to book them.

There was no confirmation of whether Garji was released after the payment of ransom or through the efforts of tribal elders of the area.

Relatives of the religious leader too confirmed his release but did not give details.

The fate of the man who was in captivity with Garji could not immediately be ascertained.

Garji is a leading spiritual leader of the minority Hindu community in Balochistan.

His abduction sparked protests in several parts of the province.

Chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani had directed authorities to ensure the safe recovery of the spiritual leader.

Dozens of Hindus have been kidnapped for ransom in Balochistan over the past few months.

Reports from provincial capital Quetta said that over 20 Hindu familie from Balochistan had sent applications to the Indian high commission seeking asylum in India.

Note by Editorial : On January 2011 Mr. Ansar Burney who is the United Nations Expert Advisor on Human Rights, Pakistan's former Federal Minister for Human Rights and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International issued a official statement on Hindus persecution in Baluchistan and he also visited Kalat Kali Mata Mandir in Baluchistan state of Pakistan.

No one safe in Balochistan: Ansar Burney

Quetta (Balochistan) : Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International and former Federal Minister for human rights, Ansar Burney has said that hundreds of Punjabi speaking families, Muslims from Shia sect and more than hundred Hindu families of Baluchistan province are making efforts to migrate to some safe place in other provinces after becoming the target of extremist and fundamentalist groups who kidnap them for ransom or brutally murdering them.

In a statement, Burney said thousands of Punjabi and Shia sect families have already been left Baluchistan after being targeted, brutally murdered or kidnapped for ransom. "They can not go out for their jobs or bussiness or their children can not go out for education even they can not travell with their family members and are living worst like in jail." Ansar Burney added.

These startling revelations were made by International Ambassador for Peace and human rights, Ansar Burney while talking to media in Quetta.

During his stay in Balochistan, Ansar Burney who is also the United Nations Expert Advisor on Human Rights had visited several Baloch dominated districts including and territories inhabited by Marri and Bugti tribes where Punjabi speaking, Shia sect Muslims and Hindus have been living for centuries - following the kidnapping of Maharaj Lakhim Chand Garji (82) by extremist and fundamentalist groups from Kali Mata Mandir in Qalat on December 21.

Criticizing the Baluchistan provincial government he said, "Government has failed to protect the lives and properties of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and different sects of Muslims including Punjabi speaking community as the incidents of kidnapping for ransom have become common. Several people have been kidnapped for ransom and government has not been able to trace or recover them. In many cases family of victims had paid huge ransom for their release."

He urged upon the Federal as well as Baluchistan government to take stern action against the fundamentalists and extremist elements those involved in kidnapping and killing of innocent Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in Pakistan and harassing them in the name of blasphemy act.

Please find below pictures of Mr.Ansar Burney visit to Kali Mata mandir in Kalat, Baluchistan :-

 (Photo : Kalat, Baluchistan: The Provincial Minister for Minorities, Government of Baluchistan, Mr. Jai Parkash Seetlani, met with the United Nations Expert Advisor on human rights, Mr. Ansar Burney and discussed with him the illegal and dishonest treatment (Kidnapping for Ransom) and other human rights violations with Minorities especially with Hindu religion families in Baluchistan)

 (Photo : Kalat, Baluchistan: The United Nations Expert Advisor on human rights and Pakistan's former Federal Minister for human rights, Mr. Ansar Burney along with the Provincial Minister for Minorities, Government of Baluchistan, Mr. Jai Parkash Seetlani, visited Kali Mai Mandir (Hindu religions famous religious Temple in Kalat) from where Hindu religions religious leader 'Saint' Maharaj Lakme Kir (82), was kidnapped)

 (Photo : Historical Kali Mai Mandir (Hindu Religion Temple) in Kalat, Baluchistan (Pakistan)

 (Photo : Mr. Ansar Burney with local Baloch Hindus at Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat of Balochistan,Pakistan)

 (Photo : Mr. Ansar Burney with local Baloch Hindus at Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat of Balochistan,Pakistan)

(Photo : Mr. Ansar Burney with local Baloch Hindus at Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat of Balochistan,Pakistan)

The PHP Team

Signed The Petition "Help us secure the release of a revered Hindu leader in Pakistan"

By Arvind Iyer (PHP Coordinator, Human Rights)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

 (Photo : Garji 82, the abducted Hindu spiritual leader in Balochistan, Pakistan)

Namasty,

         Please signed the petition "Help us secure the release of a revered Hindu leader in Pakistan" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/help-us-secure-the-release-of-a-revered-hindu-leader-in-pakistan?share_source=share-petition_em&ue=sei

Thanks!

OVERVIEW

Lakki Chand Garji is a revered Hindu leader from Balochistan province in Pakistan. He is one of the most revered and respected Hindu leaders both nationally and internationally. He was kidnapped by a gang of armed men on December 21st, 2010. He is yet to be recovered despite both local and provincial gubernatorial efforts.

Sri Garji's kidnapping demonstrates the vulnerable state of minorities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Even in Balochistan, with its secular and tolerant history, Hindu businesspeople and religious leaders have been targeted for murders, kidnapping, and ransom. Many Hindu families have fled the area or applied for asylum in India. Despite protests by local groups, the government has demonstrated its inability to protect the Hindu population both in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan.

PETITIONING

• Pakistani Ambassador to the United States(Ambassador Haqqani)
  • USCIRF(Leonard Leo)
    • President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan(President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan)
      
      

STARTED BY Pakistan Hindu Post

 

Read Petition Letter

PETITION LETTER

Secure the timely release Sri Garji

Greetings,

We, the petitioners, seek the timely release of Sri Garji. He was kidnapped by armed robbers 2 months ago in Balochistan in Pakistan. He is one of the most revered and influential Hindu leaders in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and his kidnapping highlights the vulnerable state of minorities there. Hindus are frequently the target of armed robberies, often for ransom, as well as kidnapping. Local authority intervention has been quite lacking, and families often have to pay hefty sums of ransom for their release. So far, the Mandir which Sri Garji belongs to has not received any request for ransom, indicating that Sri Garji may have been targeted because he was a Hindu leader.

While this issue is very difficult to fathom, it only augments the difficulties faced by Hindus in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Without proper gubernatorial support, provision for education,or proper security, the Hindu minority is quickly disappearing. By recovering Sri Garji, the government can demonstrate its commitment to the security and spiritual well being of the Hindu community.

We call upon the government to:

1) Recover Sri Garji and allow him to resume his duties at Kali Mandir
2) Employ a commission to look into the kidnapping/ransom/killings of local Hindu businesspeople and religious leaders and work with the Hindu community on solutions
3) Catch the perpetrators and ensure maximum sentences per the Pakistan Penal Code.

We encourage the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Balochistan government to catch the perpetrators, recover Sri Garji, and send a message of zero-tolerance for crimes against women and minorities.

[Your name]

NOTE : Mr.Kailash Kumar, a  PHP Balochistan says , Maharaj Lakki Chand Garji a Hindu spiritual leader  who has been kidnapped 2 months ago in Balochistan, There is Rs 3 crores Pakistani rupees in ransom demanded by his kidnapper for his safe release or else he has to convert into Islam or get kill. This is the way Hindus are tortured in Balochistan and rest of Pakistan nowdays.

The PHP Team

Mr.Himmat Lal a Hindu among five abducted in Pakistan

By PHP Staff
Tuesday, February 15, 2011

(Photo : Map of Islamic Republic of Pakistan)

Islamabad, Feb 15:  A Hindu driver and four officials have gone missing and are feared to have been kidnapped in Pakistan's Sindh province, a media report said Tuesday. 

Driver Himmat Lal and four officials of the Sindh Seed Corporation were abducted from the national highway near Qazi Ahmed Sunday evening.

The corporation's director Agha Shahid, deputy directors Abdul Rahim Memon and Mohammad Sharif Khushk and assistant director Sadiq Memon left for Hyderabad in a car driven by Himmat Lal, but they did not reach Hyderabad till late night.

Shahid's friend Mazhar Kalhoro told Dawn that one hour after they left, they could not be contacted as their mobile phones were switched off.

Farooq Ahmed Jamali, a police officer, said the car of the missing people was found abandoned near Thari Mirwah in Khairpur district.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mr.Raisani orders early recovery of abducted Hindu cleric

By Mohammad Zafar
Tuesday, January 18, 2011

(Photo : Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani during press conference in Pakistan)

QUETTA : Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has issued directions to the police and Balochistan Levies for early and safe recovery of Hindu spiritual leader Maharaj Lakshmi Chand Garji, who was kidnapped along with four others while traveling from Kalat to Khuzdar a few weeks back.

        According to reports, Lakshmi Garji, 82, the maharaj of a historic Hindu temple in Kalat, Kali Mandir, was abducted, presumably for ransom, near Surab area some weeks ago. Following the high profile kidnapping of the Hindu cleric, CM Raisani paid a visit to Kalat to review the security situation and ordered the provincial home minister and the IGP to take tough action against the culprits and ensure peace and order in the province.

         Earlier, a delegation of Hindu leaders, led by provincial minister Basnat Lal Gulshan, met the CM and informed him about the abduction of Maharaj Garji. Raisani assured the leaders that a comprehensive strategy was being prepared by the provincial government to eliminate criminal activities on the RCD Highway.

         Reports say that a number of people have been whisked away for ransom in Kalat area in recent weeks, while looting of passenger vans and highway hold-ups are also on the rise.

Two Hindu Businessmen abducted in Balochistan State of Pakistan

By Uttam Khattri (PHP D.C.)
Sunday, November 28, 2010

Balochistan : Kidnapping of trader’s and other businessmen belonging to minority Hindu community is becoming a regular affair in Pakistan. On, 22.11.2010, two businessmen named Mr. Darshan Lal and Mr. Kanhaiya Lal were abducted in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Even though Pakistan is always crying for Indian minorities, but fails to provide adequate protection to the Pakistani minority community.

In the first of week of this month – November, 2010, also, there was a similar incident of abduction of Hindu business man named Mr. Muri Lal in Balochistan.

It is my humble request to fellow Hindu’s residing in Europe and United States to take this issue with International Human Rights agencies to force the Pakistan Government to provide security to Hindu Businessmen as well as Hindu Community in general.

13-Year-Old Hindu Girl Abducted in Pakistan and Forcibly Converted to Islam

By Publishing Staff
Friday, November 12, 2010

(Photo : Hindus are constant targets of kidnappings, rapings and killings in Pakistan by Muslim Extremists)

Karachi, Pakistan  —In the town of Lyari in Pakistan, a 13-year-old Dalit girl, Poonam, has been abducted and forcibly converted to Islam.

According to Poonam’s uncle Bhanwroo she went missing last Wednesday and was not seen until neighbours spotted her at a Madrassa in the town and informed her parents.

When her parents went to the Madrassa to bring her back, they said that she seemed very scared and was under the influence of the imams there.  She reportedly stated that they would not let her go and that she was ready to live at the Madrassa as a Muslim.

When the family turned to police for help, they immediately refused and stated it was not a big enough case to be officially registered.

Poonam’s parents were told by the police that there was no point in lodging a complaint or report because as soon as the court proceedings would take place the report would become null and be cancelled.

Poonam’s parents are left hopeless and have no where or means to turn to by which they can get their beloved daughter back.  And their crime for such a punishment was nothing.

Pakistani police trace abducted Hindu businessman

By Krishna Jaipal (PHP Lahore)
Friday, November 12, 2010

Islamabad,  (PTI) A Hindu businessman, abducted by unidentified armed men a week ago, was today found in an area in Pakistan''s southwestern Balochistan province, police said.

Muri Lal was recovered in Baron area of Dera Murad Jamali district in the province, police officials said, without giving further details.

He was abducted by unidentified armed men from Chitan Pati area of Subatpur a week ago.

However, police have not yet made any arrest in connection with the abduction.