Houses of Hindus and Christians demolished in Pakistan: report

Rawalpindi: Houses of a Hindu family and a Christian family were demolished by authorities in Pakistan's Rawalpindi. Both families have lived in the area for the past 70 years. Their belongings were thrown on the streets.

Sources told ANI that at least five houses were demolished in the Cantonment area of Rawalpindi on January 27 that belonged to a Hindu family, a Christian family, and the Shias. All three are minorities in Pakistan. The Hindu family took shelter in a temple in the area. The Christians and Shias were left without any shelter.

Several reports of minorities being persecuted have emerged in Pakistan for the past several decades. Abduction and forced conversion of young girls are also common in the country. The police and judiciary are not known to be enthusiastic about putting an end to it.

The Hindu victim said: "The Cantonment Board has only one judge, Naveed Akthar, who takes their favour. We were having all the papers as we have been living here for over 70 years. They have not given us any notice and no time to save our household goods." The families tried to get a stay order from the court but authorities used force to carry out the demolition. "They are mafias and came in a group of at least 100 people. They even harassed us and attacked us as we tried to counter them. They are so powerful that no FIR was registered at the police station," added the victim.

Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, an expert on Pakistan's Affairs, told ANI that the issue isn't new. "Persecution of Hindus and minorities in Pakistan is not something that is new to us. Since the inception of this illegal and fake country that was created in the name of religion by dividing the living body of Hindustan, we have seen persecution of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and Shias now, and have been at the forefront of Pakistan's atrocities against its own people."