In the backdrop of reports in media that Hindu families were migrating to India from different parts of Sindh province due to growing sense of insecurity, President Asif Ali Zardari has made a timely move to constitute a committee of the parliamentarians with immediate effect. The committee comprises a Senator and an MNA, both from minorities, and a federal minister, all of whom are from Sindh province.
The reports in the newspapers said that the committee, so constituted by the President after taking serious notice of media reports about prevailing sense of insecurity among Hindu families in Sindh province, would be visiting different parts of Sindh to express solidarity with members of the Hindu community reassuring them of adequate security.
Minorities, including Hindus, have been living in Sindh other parts of the country for years together enjoying the rights and privileges as a Pakistani. No doubt, there could have been some grievances and misgivings on one account or other but this in no way justifies Hindus migrating to India as if they were no more Pakistanis. The constitution of Pakistan enshrines that all citizens, without religion, faith and colour are equal and this is what our great founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that all those living within territorial frontiers of Pakistan are Pakistanis first and foremost and enjoy equal rights.
The committee while submitting its report to the president should also look into the reports in the media, particularly on TV channels, which appeared to be quite out of proportion and carried without proper investigation in this regard. Electronic media earlier had carried reports that the Hindu families are migrating to India over their growing sense of insecurity and now it is being reported that the Hindu families are going to India on pilgrimage. There is hell of a difference between migration and going on a pilgrimage visit to one country or the other country.
While appreciating the timely move by President Asif Ali Zardari in this regard, this is to request him that the committee report, as and when submitted to him, should also be made public in order to set the records straight. If there was or is any element of conspiracy in these media reports that should also be addressed by the parliamentary committees. But all this should be done as early as possible.
ZOHAIB AHMAD QURESHI
Lahore