Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that forced conversions of young non-Muslim girls are carried out in the country.

While addressing a minority convention, the cricketer-turned-politician on Thursday condemned the forced conversions of Hindu girls to Islam in Sindh, reports Dawn.

“There is an ayat (verse) in the Holy Quran [that] there is no coercion in Islam. This is Allah’s commandment. Whoever forcefully converts a non-Muslim is disobeying Allah,” he was quoted as saying.

This is the first time that any politician has commented on the issue of forceful conversions in Pakistan.

Though there have been several reports of forced conversions, especially of minority Hindu girls, the governments and&nbsp;politicians in Pakistan have remained silent on the practice so far and have done little to address the issue.

In October last year, a parliamentary committee disallowed an anti-forced conversion bill to be taken up at the Parliament after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law despite protests by legislators belonging to minority communities.

On November 26 last year, a report by the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities, an informal, cross-party group&nbsp;formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords, found that around 1,000 girls between the ages of 12-25 from minorities are forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan every year and married to their abductors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imran-khan-invites-pakistanis-to-attend-haqiqi-azadi-celebrations-on-august-13-in-lahore-506345" hreflang="en">Imran Khan invites Pakistanis to attend 'Haqiqi Azadi' celebrations on August 13 in Lahore</a>

They had described the situation as a “human-rights&nbsp;catastrophe”.

According to the 2017 census, Hindus make up around 2 per cent of Pakistan population, an overwhelming majority of them — close to 90 per cent — residing in Sindh province bordering Hindu-majority neighbour India.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-moves-high-court-to-oust-prime-minister-shehbaz-sharif-501423">Imran Khan moves High Court to oust Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif</a>

Last year, the United States had placed Pakistan&nbsp;on the list of “countries of particular concern” for religious freedom violations.

In 2016, Sindh province passed a law declaring forced conversion a punishable offence, but the region’s governor refused to ratify the legislation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that forced conversions of young non-Muslim girls are carried out in the country. While addressing a minority convention, the cricketer-turned-politician on Thursday condemned the forced conversions of Hindu girls to Islam in Sindh, reports Dawn.

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has admitted that forced conversions of young non-Muslim girls are carried out in the country. While addressing a minority convention, the cricketer-turned-politician on Thursday condemned the forced conversions of Hindu girls to Islam in Sindh, reports Dawn. “There is an ayat (verse) in the Holy Quran [that] there is no coercion in Islam. This is Allah’s commandment. Whoever forcefully converts a non-Muslim is disobeying Allah,” he was quoted as saying. This is the first time that any politician has commented on the issue of forceful conversions in Pakistan. Though there have been several reports of forced conversions, especially of minority Hindu girls, the governments and politicians in Pakistan have remained silent on the practice so far and have done little to address the issue. In October last year, a parliamentary committee disallowed an anti-forced conversion bill to be taken up at the Parliament after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law despite protests by legislators belonging to minority communities. On November 26 last year, a report by the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Pakistani Minorities, an informal, cross-party group formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords, found that around 1,000 girls between the ages of 12-25 from minorities are forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan every year and married to their abductors. Also read | Imran Khan invites Pakistanis to attend 'Haqiqi Azadi' celebrations on August 13 in Lahore They had described the situation as a “human-rights catastrophe”. According to the 2017 census, Hindus make up around 2 per cent of Pakistan population, an overwhelming majority of them — close to 90 per cent — residing in Sindh province bordering Hindu-majority neighbour India. Also Read | Imran Khan moves High Court to oust Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Last year, the United States had placed Pakistan on the list of “countries of particular concern” for religious freedom violations. In 2016, Sindh province passed a law declaring forced conversion a punishable offence, but the region’s governor refused to ratify the legislation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ex-PM Imran Khan admits Hindu girls being forcefully converted to Islam in Pakistan

An 18-year-old girl from the minority Hindu community in Pakistan was shot dead after a failed abduction attempt.

The shocking incident took place in Sukkur town of the southern Sindh province on Monday.

According to the Dawn newspaper, Pooja Kumari was shot dead&nbsp;at her house after assailants opened fire.

According to reports, one of the assailants— Wahid Bux Lashari—wanted to abduct her so that he can marry her forcefully.

The assailants were then arrested, following an outcry from the activists.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by extremists.

Every year, several women belonging to minority communities, especially Hindus in Sindh, are abducted and forcibly converted by religious extremists, Pakistan-based The Friday Times newspaper said.

According to the People's Commission for Minorities' Rights and the Centre for Social Justice, 156 incidents of forced conversions took place between 2013 and 2019. Pakistan's minority communities have long faced the issue of forced marriages and conversions.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reports the overall population of the Hindu community in Pakistan at 1.60 per cent, and 6.51 per cent in Sindh respectively, it said.

According to the report by the Pakistani newspaper, the Sindh government in 2019 attempted to outlaw forced conversions and marriages for the second time, but certain religious protesters contested the bill, arguing that these girls are not forced to convert but do so after falling in love with Muslim men. The law was then rejected.

(With inputs from agencies)

An 18-year-old girl from the minority Hindu community in Pakistan was shot dead after a failed abduction attempt. The shocking incident took place in Sukkur town of the southern Sindh province on Monday.

An 18-year-old girl from the minority Hindu community in Pakistan was shot dead after a failed abduction attempt. The shocking incident took place in Sukkur town of the southern Sindh province on Monday. According to the Dawn newspaper, Pooja Kumari was shot dead at her house after assailants opened fire. According to reports, one of the assailants— Wahid Bux Lashari—wanted to abduct her so that he can marry her forcefully. The assailants were then arrested, following an outcry from the activists. The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents. They often complain of harassment by extremists. Every year, several women belonging to minority communities, especially Hindus in Sindh, are abducted and forcibly converted by religious extremists, Pakistan-based The Friday Times newspaper said. According to the People's Commission for Minorities' Rights and the Centre for Social Justice, 156 incidents of forced conversions took place between 2013 and 2019. Pakistan's minority communities have long faced the issue of forced marriages and conversions. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reports the overall population of the Hindu community in Pakistan at 1.60 per cent, and 6.51 per cent in Sindh respectively, it said. According to the report by the Pakistani newspaper, the Sindh government in 2019 attempted to outlaw forced conversions and marriages for the second time, but certain religious protesters contested the bill, arguing that these girls are not forced to convert but do so after falling in love with Muslim men. The law was then rejected. (With inputs from agencies)

18-year-old Hindu girl shot dead in Pakistan after failed abduction attempt

A 25- year-old girl filed a petition in Kerala High Court stating that she is a victim of forceful conversion, fraudulent marriage, and sexual slavery.

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Petition filed in Kerala High court by a 25-year old girl stating that she is a victim of forceful conversion, fraudulent marriage, attempt to sexual slavery.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/929240170032852992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Petition also states that she was taken to Saudi Arabia &amp; there were attempts to take her to Syria to the IS territory. She has approached the court to nullify her marriage, and conduct NIA investigation into these &#39;anti-national activities&#39;. Case to be considered on November 13
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/929241126338379777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The petition alleges that she was taken to Saudi Arabia and was forced to be a sex slave there. She has told that she will be taken to IS territory in Syria. She somehow managed to contact her parents and they send her ticket to come back to Gujarat on October 3.

She has approached the court to nullify the marriage and to conduct an NIA investigation into these anti-national activities. Her advocate also alleged that Riyaz is a member of &nbsp;The Popular Front of India (PFI) an Islamic fundamentalist organisation.

The Kerala High Court will consider the petition on November 13.&nbsp;

The woman is a Keralite but was born and brought up in Gujarat. She was studying in Bengaluru where she met Muhammed Riyaz, the two got into a relation and he recorded a private video of her.

According to the petition, Riyaz blackmailed her with the video, asking her to convert and marry him.

The woman was sent to religious classes and was also forced to see Zakir Naik&#39;s speeches, claimed by her counsel V Sethunath

This incident has come at a time when NIA has claimed that they have come across at least 90 cases of forced conversions in Kerala.

A 25- years old girl has filed a petition in Kerala High Court stating that she is a victim of forceful conversion, fraudulent marriage, and the attempt of sexual slavery

A 25- year-old girl filed a petition in Kerala High Court stating that she is a victim of forceful conversion, fraudulent marriage, and sexual slavery. Petition filed in Kerala High court by a 25-year old girl stating that she is a victim of forceful conversion, fraudulent marriage, attempt to sexual slavery. — ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2017 × Petition also states that she was taken to Saudi Arabia & there were attempts to take her to Syria to the IS territory. She has approached the court to nullify her marriage, and conduct NIA investigation into these 'anti-national activities'. Case to be considered on November 13 — ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2017 × The petition alleges that she was taken to Saudi Arabia and was forced to be a sex slave there. She has told that she will be taken to IS territory in Syria. She somehow managed to contact her parents and they send her ticket to come back to Gujarat on October 3. She has approached the court to nullify the marriage and to conduct an NIA investigation into these anti-national activities. Her advocate also alleged that Riyaz is a member of The Popular Front of India (PFI) an Islamic fundamentalist organisation. The Kerala High Court will consider the petition on November 13. The woman is a Keralite but was born and brought up in Gujarat. She was studying in Bengaluru where she met Muhammed Riyaz, the two got into a relation and he recorded a private video of her. According to the petition, Riyaz blackmailed her with the video, asking her to convert and marry him. The woman was sent to religious classes and was also forced to see Zakir Naik's speeches, claimed by her counsel V Sethunath This incident has come at a time when NIA has claimed that they have come across at least 90 cases of forced conversions in Kerala.

'Forcefully Converted, Sexually Exploited': 25-Year-Old Approaches Kerala High Court

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