'Abducted' Hindu girls being forcibly kept at Sindh madrassas: Zardari's sister

Islamabad, Fri, 16 Mar 2012 ANI

Islamabad, Mar 16(ANI): Hindu girls are being forcibly kept in various madrassas in Sindh and are later forced to marry Muslims, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's sister Dr Azra Fazl has said.

She was referring to the case of Faryal Shah (Rinkle Kumari), who was allegedly abducted and forced to marry and convert to Islam in Sindh earlier this month.

Fazl stressed the need for legislation to protect minority rights and to end forced conversions, The Express Tribune reports.

She was speaking in the Pakistan's National Assembly in the wake of Zardari receiving a sharply-worded letter from California Congressman Brad Sherman, urging him to take action to ensure Faryal' returns to her family.

Another parliamentarian Nafeesa Shahalso backed Fazl and called on parliament to introduce legislation on "forced conversions".

Various non-Muslims were being forced to accept Islam as being reported by the media, she observed.

"Protection of the minorities should be ensured as enshrined in the Constitution," Shah added.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Dr Araish Kumar said that minorities were also being forced to read Islamic studies in Pakistan.

"Our students are being forced to read subject Islamiat in the government schools. If they refuse to study Islamic studies, they are struck off by the school administration," Kumar added. (ANI)