The safety and security of minority communities in neighbouring Pakistan have once again come under intense scrutiny following a disturbing incident in the Balochistan province. A case involving the alleged abduction and forced conversion of a minor Hindu girl has triggered major political friction, leading to dramatic scenes inside the provincial legislative assembly as lawmakers demanded immediate intervention and justice for the victim.
During a session of the Balochistan Assembly, two Hindu legislators, Ashok Kumar and Sanjay Kumar, staged a vociferous protest by sitting on the floor in the well of the house. The lawmakers stated that the victim, a 14-year-old ninth-grade student named Bindiya Kumari, was taken away from the Sibi region. They alleged that individuals linked to the notorious Mian Mithu gang assisted in her forceful conversion and subsequent marriage, and she is currently being held in the Sindh province.
To register their strong dissent, both legislators sat right in front of the speaker's podium and raised slogans, disrupting the proceedings before other members intervened. Following persuasion from fellow assembly members, they eventually concluded their sit-in protest and returned to their seats. Another member, BNP-Awami legislator Asad Baloch, also echoed similar concerns, calling the entire episode deeply unfortunate and demanding accountability.
Prior to this legislative protest, a prominent minority rights advocacy group had already flagged the same case on November 31, expressing profound shock over the abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage of the young girl. The organization noted at the time that such recurring incidents targeting minority youth expose major vulnerabilities in the country's protection framework.
According to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) network, the 14-year-old student should have been focusing on her education rather than dealing with the trauma of forced displacement and marriage. The advocacy group emphasized that this specific case highlights a massive chasm between official claims regarding minority protection and the grim ground realities. While the victim's family continues to plead for official assistance, local representatives have heavily criticized the administration for dragging its feet on the matter.
