Let’s visit the plight of minorities in Pakistan through Kartarpur Corridor

The dwindling population of Hindus, which has now remained 1.6% i.e. 36 lakh of the entire population of the country, is the testimony of it. According to various Human Rights organisations,90% Hindus have left the country in the last 50 years. An Express Tribune report of 2014 reveals that 95% of the places of worship of Hindus have been destroyed. According to the report, out of the total 428 places of worship of Hindus 408 places are already being destroyed since 1990 and graveyard, toilet, toy stores, restaurants, government offices, schools etc. are created on it. The report also mentioned that Kalibari Temple in Dera Ismail is used as a Hotel, 1000 years old Varun Mandir is converted to toilet, Krishna Temple in Khayber Phakhtunkhwa is converted into graveyard, garment shops are opened in Gurudwara Gali, Ram Kund Mandir in Islamabad is converted in Picnic spot and likewise the places of worships have been destroyed in Pakistan.

It reported that the land mafia of Sindh is usurping the lands of Hindus and the administration is not doing anything in this matter even if the complaints are made to them. Therefore, Hindus are forced to sell their lands and in most of the cases they are migrating to other countries. Surprisingly, it is much easier for Pakistani to get a visa for India but the same is not true with Indian willing to go to Pakistan. Like Hindus, Sikh are also facing persecution in Pakistan. Recently in 2018, a report depicts about how the Sikhs were brutality killed in Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan and many of them have flee the place to save their lives. In Peshawar, 60% of the total 30,000 Sikhs left their homes because of Islamic fundamentalists.It is not the first time that they are facing persecution but it is a regular feature, where the Sikhs are targeted by Islamic fundamentalists. They are even deprived of their religious and constitutional rights. Even the pseudo-Akali and hard-liners Khalistani maintain silence on the issues of Sikh persecution in Pakistan because they are hand in glove with Islamic fundamentalists. The sense of alienation in Pakistan is so high among Hindus and Sikhs that those who come to India for a visit, they do not want to go back to Pakistan lest they would face persecution.

• When Pakistan was created in 1947, Hindus constituted about 15 % of the population of West Pakistan (current Pakistan) but their number has reduced to 1.6% presently.

• 90% Hindus have left the country in the last 50 years.

• 95% of the places of worship of Hindus have been destroyed.

• Graveyard, toilet, toy stores, restaurants, government offices, schools etc. are created by destroying the Hindu Temples.

• Prominent Hindu Temples destroyed in Pakistan Kalibari Temple, VarunMandir, Krishna Temple, Ram Kund Mandir.

• 60% of the total 30,000 Sikhs left their homes because of Islamic fundamentalists in 2018.

• Sikhs are deprived of their religious and constitutional rights.

• Hindus and Sikhs visiting India do not want to go back to Pakistan.

Under such conditions, it is obvious to doubt on the intention of Pakistan. Though the Kartarpur Corridor is presented as the Pakistan softening stand on religious bigotry but its record on minority community present a different picture. Moreover, this occasion was used by Pakistani Prime Minister to rake up Kashmir issue once again where he mentioned it as the only dispute between the two countries. Therefore, it is difficult to see in near future that any significant progress in the relationship of both the country would take place. It is interesting to see whether Pakistan will ease its ideology of hate against Hindus and Sikhs and stop supporting the terrorists.

(courtesy:www.jammukashmirnow.com)