Persecution of Hindus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa State or NWFP of Pakistan

By Rajesh Kumar (PHP Islamabad)
Friday, June 18, 2010

 (Photo : Peshawar Hindus speaking on their Human Rights issues in Pakistan)

Islamabad : Religious minorities are believed to be much more than the estimated figures of 5 percent of Pakistan's 160 million population as Hindus alone represent 5 to 6 percent of the population (according Pakistan Hindu Council). However, Pakistani census intentionally keeps minority figures low to deny them greater representation. Attacks on minorities further deteriorate the volatile situation in a highly unstable country. It also portrays how Pakistan, an U.S. ally in the fight against Islamic extremism, is itself being increasingly threatened by extremists.

Persecution of Hindus in North-West Frontier Province or NWFP

Peshawar : Although no figures are made available, anecdotal evidence and human rights groups say that attacks against Hindus have risen in the last two years, with temples and worshippers targeted, especially in NWFP province. All the Hindus worry about the future of their families, especially the children in Pakistan.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also acknowledges that Hindus are in very danger in NWFP and rest of Pakistan.

Hindus in Orakzai agency and Khyber agency have been warned by militant groups to convert or leave the area. Threats against Sikhs, Hindus and Christians are the latest in a series of warnings against religious minorities in the NWFP, who have had to pay jizya and submit to Sharia. The Taliban in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have issued an ultimatum against local Hindus and Sikhs: either you pay “jizya”, an Islamic poll tax for religious minorities that is akin to protection money, or you leave. Many Hindu and Sikh families have already left for Peshawar and neighbouring provinces. Some 400 Sikh and 100 Hindu families have already left the towns of Bara and Tirah.

In FATA : Muslim and non-Muslim women are not allowed outside their homes without a male relative. In fact all women, even the elderly, have to wear a burqa. For their part, men have to grow a beard and wear a cap; otherwise Lashkar extremists beat them or fine them Rupees 200 to 500.

(Photo : Old Lord Shiva Temple in Peshawar City (Need Repair),Pakistan)

(Photo : Balmik Hindu Mandir in Peshawar City ,need repair too, Pakistan)

(Photo : Ceiling of Hindu temples of Kalibari in Peshawar, Pakistan)

(Photo : Hindu wood carving from Kashmir Smast in Peshawar, Pakistan)

(Photo : S.M. Jaffar identified it with the place of Hindu pilgrimage where they performed the Sardukahr ritual (shaving off heads) in Peshawar, Pakistan)