Sushma seeks report on conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan
New Delhi/Islamabad, Mar 24 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday directed Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to send a report on the abduction of two Hindu girls in Sindh region. Sources said a diplomatic note had been also sent to Pakistan on the matter.
Amid a war of words between her and the Pakistan Informational Minister, Swaraj maintained her mere seeking a report on this was no reason for making the authorities in Pakistan 'jittery'.
"Mr Minister Fawad Chaudhry - I only asked for a report from Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad about the kidnapping and forced conversion of two minor Hindu girls to Islam. This was enough to make you jittery. This only shows your guilty conscience," she tweeted tagging her missive to Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister.
Pakistani media reported that Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday ordered the Sindh and Punjab governments to work together to recover two teenage girls who were allegedly kidnapped and forced to convert from Hinduism to Islam before being married to Muslim men.
The two young women - reportedly - been taken to Rahim Yar Khan from Ghotki.
The father and brother of the girls in videos — circulating on social media over the last two days — said that the two sisters were abducted and forced into changing their religion.
Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, via tweets in Urdu said Pakistan PM Imran Khan has also asked that the two girls be recovered if they had indeed been moved to the city.
In his tweet, Mr Chaudhry further said that Pakistan's minorities represent the white part of Pakistan's flag and that "we love all our colours and the protection of our flag is our responsibility".
The incidents had happened on March 20. There were also Pakistani media reports of 'forced conversion of another minor Hindu girl, Shania'.
"This was enough to make you jittery. This only shows your guilty conscience," she said.
This prompted Chaudhry to respond again.
"Madam Minister I am happy that in the Indian administration, we have people who care for minority rights in other countries. I sincerely hope that your conscience will allow you to stand up for minorities at home as well. Gujarat and Jammu must weigh heavily on your soul," the Pakistani minister tweeted.
In a Twitter post in Urdu, Information Minister Chaudhry said the Prime Minister had asked the Sindh chief minister to look into reports that the girls in question have been taken to Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab.
A number of Pakistani human rights activists have claimed that it is another case of forced conversion and abduction, which are becoming increasingly common in the southern region of Sindh.
Ms Swaraj's terse message came in response to Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister tweeting earlier that the episode was "internal issue" in Pakistan and that Imran Khan's 'Naya Pak' would treat minorities with respect.
".....I hope you will act with same diligence when it comes to rights of Indian Minorities," he had written directing his message to Ms Swaraj.
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