Islamabad, Oct 20: Amidst complaints of harassment
and victimisation of Hindus residing in an area where a Shiv
temple is located in Karachi, the Pakistan Human Rights
Commission has asked the government to ensure that minorities
are protected in the country.
"A continuous stream of complaints was being received
against the harassment and victimisation of Hindus residing in
Pawmal Das compound, opposite Kakri ground, Lyari in Karachi,
where a Shiv Mandir was located," said a statement of the
commission, headed by rights activist Asma Jahangir.
"Reports were also received about butchers turning the
compound in which a temple is situated into a slaughtering
area," the statement said.
The compound houses a historic Shiv Mandir within its
premises, but it has been taken over by a self-styled pir
(religious leader) Syed Hussain Mian Bukhari, whose followers
claim that the temple was a mosque earlier, according to the
'Daily Times'.
As a result of this Hindus have been forced to offer
their prayers in a makeshift room on another side of the
compound, it said.
In another statement, Jahangir expressed deep concern
over how the authorities were dealing with prisoners on the
death row.
The commission had monitored a few death row cases and
come to the "horrifying conclusion that in a number of cases,
due process was not followed or that the evidence was not
compelling enough to prescribe capital punishment."
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, October 20, 2006, 00:00