COVID-19: USCIRF feels 'troubled' by reports of Pakistan denying aid to Hindus and Christians
Washington/IBNS: The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently expressed its concern over reports that "food aid being denied to the minority Hindus and Christians in Pakistan", specially at a time when the nation is witnessing an outbreak of COVID-19.
“These actions are simply reprehensible,” stated USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread, vulnerable communities within Pakistan are fighting hunger and to keep their families safe and healthy. Food aid must not be denied because of one’s faith. We urge the Pakistani government to ensure that food aid from distributing organizations is shared equally with Hindus, Christians, and other religions minorities.”
In Karachi, for example, there have been reports earlier that the Saylani Welfare International Trust, a non-government organization established to assist the homeless and seasonal workers, has been refusing food assistance to Hindus and Christians, arguing that the aid is reserved for Muslims alone, USCIRF said in the statement.
USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore added, “In a recent address by Prime Minister Khan to the international community, he highlighted that the challenge facing governments in the developing world is to save people from dying of hunger while also trying to halt the spread of COVID-19.
"This is a monumental task laying before many countries. Prime Minister Khan’s government has the opportunity to lead the way but they must not leave religious minorities behind. Otherwise, they may add on top of it all one more crisis, created by religious discrimination and inter-communal strife.”
The world is unitedly trying to beat the COVID-19 outbreak and the disease has even extended its killer arms in Pakistan but for the administration in the South Asian nation religious discrimination still remains a top priority with reports emerging that Hindus were denied food supplies by the authority, media reports said.
According to reports, the Sindh government issued an order to distribute ration through local NGOs and administration to daily wage workers and laborers in the region at a time when the country is seeing a surge in the number of COVID-19 infected patients regularly.
Hindus were told that they were not eligible for having food supplies since it was only meant for Muslims, activists told ANI news agency.
Hindus in Liyari, Sachal Ghoth and other parts of Karachi as well as all over Sindh are reportedly being denied from getting the rations catered by the government.
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