‘Doctors’ brain drain a shame’

Strongly condemning violence on basis of faith and the recent murder of a Hindu doctor and his two family members, the civil society representatives on Friday criticised the role of law enforcers in preventing such incidents due to which highly-trained doctors are leaving the country as they and their families are not safe in the country.
“A day will come when there will be no specialists to perform check ups or treatments of our children and elders,” said the members of more than 15 welfare organisations – Pakistan Medical Association, Women Action Forum, Pakistan Hindu Council, Aurat Foundation, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, CPP, Karachi Concerned Citizens Forum, Pakistan Workers Federation, Pakistan Clerks Association, Teachers Association, Karachi Bar Council, Joint Action Committee and Karachi Union of Journalist among others at a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Friday.
IA Rehman, Anis Rehman, Samrina Hashmi, Ramesh Kumar, Zulfiqar Shah, Apa Sualeha, Siraj Ahmed, Mehnaz, Amarnath Motomal, comrade Saleem and Noor Ahmed spoke on the occasion.
“We believe that there is an increase in faith-based violence in the country in the last few years. The perpetrators think they can murder anyone for purpose as long as the victims are from a religious minority. The authorities should realise that they have failed to protect the fundamental rights of minorities,” they said. “People from all religions and sects have been peacefully in Sindh living for centuries. The soil has given birth to great Sufi poets including Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, Sammi and Shaikh Ayaz.”
They said that the killing of the three Hindus is a conspiracy to divide Sindhis and damage the harmonious environment of the province. “We are deeply concerned over the increasing intolerance in Sindh particularly in flood-hit northern districts where tribal conflicts and weaponisation have been major challenges.”
The harassment of doctors for ransom has increased in the last few years as 10 doctors have been killed on sectarian and money extortion issues over the past one year only. In the last six months, five doctors were kidnapped in interior Sindh and only released after paying ransom, with the latest example being Dr Vasev.
“The Hindu community is being victimised through kidnappings, murders and forced conversions for the past few years and they are left with only one option – that is to migrate from Pakistan.”
“We demand that provincial and federal governments should ensure safety of minorities in Pakistan particularly in Sindh, which houses a large number of Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians and Bahá’ís among others.”
The civil society representatives demanded that the government should give exemplary punishments to the culprits involved in such acts and the decision to do so should not be affected by any political pressures. “This is the only way the government can give some confidence to the minorities – a vital part of society.”
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) President Dr Ramesh Kumar said that Hindu girls are targeted for forcible conversion from Hinduism to Islam. “We were facing a horrible situation. We went to the Supreme Court and hired advocate Akram Khan. For four years now, this important case is pending and no hearings have been fixed,” he said. “We request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of it.”
He said that more than 250 families from Ghokti have migrated from Sindh. “Not a single person from the government or anywhere came forward to ask where they were going.”