A Press Releasefrom World Sindhi Congress (WSC) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
After an alleged incident of burning Quran in Ghotki on 26th July, in all the large and small towns of district Ghotki including Ghotki, Dharki, Mirpur Mathelo, Rahrki the proxies of the state agencies and vigilantes of religious extremist have started a campaign of harassment and hatred against Sindhi Hindus. All these towns have been shut down, there has been an attack on the shrine of Bhgat Kanwar in Rahrki and in a separate incident two youth, Satesh Kumar and Avinash were fired upon in Mirpur Mathelo. Sadly, Sateesh Kumar succumbed to death and Avinash is in critical condition. In all these towns where Sindhi Hindus live in large numbers are in a deep state of shock, fear, insecurity and uncertainty.
The information is emerging that person involved in the alleged incident is insane, who recently might have been converted to Islam. The incident occurred on 25th July from a cigarette butt. However, it appears that the incident was then deliberately manipulated to launch a campaign of terror against the indigenous Sindhi Hindus. WSC has been raising the issue of systematic efforts by the Pakistani agencies to create an atmosphere of terror to coerce Sindhi Hindus to migrate as part of their designs to convert Sindhis into minority in their own motherland and tear apart the secular social fabric of Sindhi society.
WSC strongly condemns this latest campaign of terror against indigenous Sindhis and promise to be beside them. WSC believes this is the direct outcome of state policies to systematically support and sponsor spread of religious extremism. WSC requests all the Sindhi political parties and civil society to proactively demonstrate their support to Sindhi Hindus against state proxies and religious vigilantes. WSC will raise this issue with the UN and international human rights organisations to press upon the Pakistani government to ensure the peace, safety and security of Sindhi Hindus.
The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) is based in the UK, USA, Canada, and Sindh and is one of the most prominent human rights advocacy organizations for Sindh and Sindhis. The main objective of WSC is to create a better understanding within the international community about the persecuted status of Sindhis in Pakistan and about the Sindhi people’s struggle for human rights, including the right to self-determination. WSC is a registered company in the UK and the USA, and is organized to carry out non-profit activities. For more information, visit www.worldsindhicongress.org
