Hindu Population in Pakistan Has Declined to Just 1.7%: Report

Islamabad/Pakistan:- According to a report by the British Hindu organisation 'Insight UK', the Hindu population in Pakistan has declined to just 1.7%. In 1941, Hindus accounted for 14.6% of the population in the territory that now forms Pakistan. The report identifies violence and religious conversions as the main reasons for this decline. It states that during and after Partition, thousands of Hindu families were forced to leave their homes, and many also lost their ancestral lands and farms.

The report has also expressed concern over the suppression of religious freedom and incidents of forced religious conversions. The organisation has urged the British government to take steps to ensure the protection of minorities in Pakistan.

Hindu families lost their ancestral lands after Partition

According to the report, violence during and after the 1947 Partition displaced thousands of Hindu families, forcing them to lose their ancestral lands and farms. The report claims that the takeover of these properties under Pakistan's 'Enemy Property' laws weakened the economic position of the Hindu community.

In Pakistan, 'enemy property' refers to houses, land or other assets confiscated by the government on the grounds that they belong to people who migrated to India or are citizens of a country considered an 'enemy'.

Hindus barred from holding the offices of President or Prime Minister

The report refers to Articles 41 and 91 of the Pakistani Constitution, which restrict the offices of President and Prime Minister to Muslim citizens. A bill to amend these provisions was introduced in 2019, but it could not make further progress.

The organisation also pointed out that citizens in Pakistan are required to declare their religion when applying for a passport. In addition, a proposal to build a Hindu temple in Islamabad has still not been completed. According to the report, although the project received approval in 2020, construction was halted following opposition from Islamic organisations.

The report claims that around 1,000 or more Hindu and Christian women and girls are abducted in Pakistan every year. It is alleged that they are subsequently forced to convert their religion and are married to their abductors. Many of the victims are underage girls from poor families, who also face considerable difficulties in obtaining justice.