LARKANA: The Minorities’ Convention, organised by the Rawadari Tehreek (RT) here on Saturday night, called on the government to ensure proper security at minorities’ worship places across Sindh.
It also expressed its concern over instances of forced conversion and underage marriages.
The convention was held in the Begum Nusrat Bhutto Library auditorium.
Speakers highlighted importance of religious tolerance, interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence. They stressed the need for ensuring provision of constitutional rights to all religious minorities in Sindh.
Speakers also express concern over instances of ‘forced conversion’, underage marriages
Representatives of Hindu, Christian, Sikh and Muslim communities including Samson Salamat, Dr Zulfiqar Rahojo, Sardar Luxman Singh and Deedar Mirani spoke at the convention.
Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairman Iqbal Detho highlighted his institution’s role in protecting citizens’ constitutional rights.
Prominent figures of the scheduled caste segments also attended the convention.
The speakers criticised “institutional neglect” of minorities and called for effective actions at the state level to ensure protection of minorities’ rights.
The common issues touched by them were illegal occupation of properties belonging to the minority communities, insecurity at worship places and insufficient political representation, particularly of the Bheel and Baghri segments of the Hindu community, in elected bodies and different sectors.
The convention highlighted the political and legal struggle waged by leaders of the minority communities for their rights. They demanded justice, dignity and equality for all religious minorities.
The speakers also highlighted issues of discrimination in scholarships, education and job quotas, and maintenance of worship places and religious institutions being faced by these communities.
One of the main topics discussed at the convention was unabated occurrence of “forced” conversions and underage marriages. They stressed on legal framework and protective measures to end unrest among the minorities.
SHRC Chairman Iqbal Detho told the audience that the commission was committed to the protection of minorities. He said being an independent institution, it was working for the effective implementation of the Hindu Marriage Act, 2016, and was drafting laws relating to the ‘Christian Marriage and Divorce Bill’. He said the SHRC had also drafted the ‘Prohibition of Forced Conversion Bill’.
He referred to the Articles 20 and 36 of the Constitution on safeguarding religious freedom and minority rights, and said that the commission took action in certain cases of forced conversions. He cited the example of Arzoo Raja case in this regard. Detho said that the commission recommended rules for the Hindu Marriage Act and Local Government Academy for Marriage Registrars, local government employees and political representatives.
He called for holding awareness sessions on minority rights particularly in districts like Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot.
The SHRC chairman said that his institution was working on the ‘Sindh Minorities Protection Bill’ and advising government on an inclusive policy framework. He said the commission was liaising with relevant departments in this regard.
His speech revolved around constitutional and legal commitments, forced conversion issue, legal support, blasphemy-related cases and protection of vulnerable segments.
He reaffirmed SHRC’s role in protecting citizens’ constitutional rights, particularly those of the marginalised segments.
He highlighted the commission’s proactive role in much publicised cases of forced conversion, including those of Arzoo Raja, Pooja Kumari and Priya Kumari, and said it extended legal and moral support to the victims.
Detho drew attention of the audience to the blasphemy case recently filed against members of the Ahmadiyya community in Larkana and Shikarpur districts.
The SHRC called for a fair investigation into the cases and protection of those falsely implicated in the matter, he said
He also mentioned the high-profile case of Shahnawaz Kunbhar, a human rights activist from Umerkot who was killed after being arrested on the charges of blasphemy.
Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025