The Supreme Court has sought reports from all provinces on the security arrangement for minorities’ worship places, utilisation of per cent quota in jobs, and implementation of resolutions on Hindu marriage registration and other matters.
The court also directed the Sindh government and police to submit detailed reports until December 10 with respect to 36 cases, including forced conversion of Hindu boys and girls into Islam, 14 gang rape cases, kidnapping of eight girls and a robbery in a temple in Dhirki Sindh.
While taking up a case concerning minorities’ rights, Supreme Court Judge Ejaz Afzal Khan remarked, “Minorities rights have been enshrined in the constitution. Protecting these rights is the legal and constitutional obligation of the state. It is essential that provinces play their role on this count. The Sindh government should take action in accordance with law in cases related to forced conversion of Hindus into Islam. Some cases are in subordinate courts. We will not interfere with them. Let the courts decide them.”
Minorities MNA Ramesh Kumar and others appeared in the court, while provinces also filed their reports.
The court was told that the reconstruction of a Hindu temple in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was under way and foolproof security was being provided to places of worships that belong to minorities. The Punjab and Balochistan governments have made amendments in the law pertaining to allocation of five per cent quota of jobs to minorities while the Balochistan and KP governments have adopted resolutions on the Hindu marriage registration.
Ramesh Kumar told the court he had presented a bill in this regard. “Now I am waiting for the adoption of the resolutions by two provincial assemblies regarding the Hindu marriage registration,” he said.
Justice QazI Faiz Essa remarked, “You should not become the representative of Hindus only but also take up the cases of Sikh and Parsis.” Kumar said separate legislation would be required in this respect and bills will have to be presented separately.
The court sought a report from the KP government on the reconstruction of the Hindu temple and adjourned the hearing still December 10.
