Notable incidents
In May 2007, Christian citizens of
Charsadda (a city which is close to the border with
Afghanistan) reported that they had received letters purportedly from the
Taliban threatening them with violence if they do not convert to Islam, and that the police did not take the threats seriously.
[10] In 2015, Christians in Charsadda again received threatening letters asking them to convert; in response the local police say increased security at churches.
[11]
In April 2012 three Hindu sisters were allegedly threatened into converting to Islam.
[12][13][14] their cases were appealed all the way to the
Supreme Court of Pakistan, where the appeal was admitted but has remained unheard.
[15]
Hindus may convert to Islam in order to acquire Watan Cards (a cash transfer programme by the Government of Pakistan to transfer money to flood affected people
[16]) and National Identification Cards. Some converts are also given land and money.
[17]
Consequences
A survey conducted by a
Pakistani Hindu organization found that a majority of
scheduled caste Pakistani Hindu families dont send their female children to schools due to the fear of forced conversion and kidnapping.
[18]
According to
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a member of the
National Assembly of Pakistan, around 5,000 Hindus migrate from Pakistan to India every year due to fear of forced conversions.
[19] The
Pakistan Hindu Council says that forced conversions are the primary reason for the declining Hindu population in Pakistan.
[4]