Police arrest 12 persons in Ghotki forced conversion case

DAHARKI, GHOTKI: Ghotki police arrested on Monday 12 persons including the marriage officiator and witnesses of two minor Hindu girls who were allegedly forced to convert to Islam.

The incident came to light when a video of the girls’ father and brother surfaced online. The men said that the teenagers were abducted and forced into conversion and marriage.

The girls, who are both 13, have been identified as Reena and Raveena. They were allegedly kidnapped on March 20.

A new video, however, has now emerged in which a cleric is sitting next to the pair with two other men they were married to.

The cleric said the girls were inspired by Islam and alleged that their family was lying about the incident.

Reports also emerged that the teenagers had been moved to the Punjab city of Rahim Yar Khan from Ghotki, Sindh.

On March 24, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the government had taken notice of the incident, asking authorities in both Sindh and Punjab to jointly investigate the matter.

Similarly, it was announced that a five-point resolution seeking to end the kidnapping of Hindu girls and forced conversions was set be tabled in the next session of the National Assembly.

According to a resolution draft circulated on social media, prominent Hindu lawmaker Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani was asked by Pakistan Hindu Council to play his due role for raising his voice in the parliament, media, civil society and all other forums available, in the wake of incident.

Meanwhile, the couples approached the Islamabad High Court, seeking protection as their lives were under threat.

The application stated that propaganda was being spread in the media related to the matter.

Source: Express Tribune