FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

The issue of minorities about kidnapping for ransom in Sindh province was raised in the National Assembly but the government did not give any response to it and remained tight lipped. In the previous session of National Assembly, MNAs of Hindu minority particularly that who belong to Sindh raised issue of Hindu child kidnapping for ransom but the government did take any appropriate action on it.
Interior Minister Rehamn Mailk assured the National Assembly that a report about these incidents would be presented in the House. But, two months have been passed, he did not present any report in the House. A number of Hindus in Pakistan have been kidnapped for ransom especially in Sindh province. These incidents are generally ignored by the Pakistani authorities, because the Hindu minority lacks support among government officials as well as in the local society, which is predominantly Muslim.
Many cases were reported of Kidnapping for ransom of minor children in the northern parts of Sindh notorious for crimes, particularly Kandhkot in Kashmore district, Umerkot, and other districts is becoming a lucrative business. The majority of children kidnapped were aged between three to 12 years. These cases could be much more than actually reported, as the kidnappers threaten the parents of killing the child, if they approach the police.
Recently a Hindu member of Pakistan's Sindh Assembly has resigned from his seat after taking refuge in India, following life threats received by him. After receiving some security threats, Sodho fled to India, from where he sent his resignation to the Speaker of Sindh Assembly. Incidents of kidnapping for ransom have seen an alarming rise during the last few months, forcing many Hindu families to abandon their homes and shift to India or other countries.
These incidents are shameful for us and tantamount to damage Pakistan at international level. Even our religion Islam gives rights and complete protection to the minorities. In an Islamic country, Islam gives protection of life, property, self-respect and others to a minority member.
But in our country, the children of a minority are being kidnapped but our government especially, police and law enforcement agency are not taking any action. Even, it was also reported that the official of police are involved such incidents. Today (Monday) session of the National Assembly, two members, Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur and Ms Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan raised the issue of kidnapping of Hindu children. Yousuf Talpur said while remembering the Interior Minister that he should have to present a report of kidnapping of Hindu's children for ransom in Kashmoor and other districts of Sindh but two months have been passed, but not any report was presented in the House.
He alleged that the officials of police are involved in these incidents. He also proposed the House to constitute a Parliamentary Committee to investigate of these incidents. Women member Palwasha regretted on such incident and said that many families of Hindu community are migrating to India. We are forcing them to do so, she said.
Similarly, in the Upper House of the Parliament on Monday witnessed controversy whether or not former Governor Salman Taseer is a martyred. This controversy arose on a privilege motion moved by a senator belonging to FATA, Humayun Mandokhel against an official of the UNDP, Marvi Sarmad and also referred to a news item that appeared in a section of press said that a statement regarding the late Punjab Governor Salman Taseer had been attributed with him, which was totally wrong.
Humaun requested the Deputy Chairman Jana Mohammad Jamali to referrer this matter to privilege committee. He also wanted ruling on it. However, the Deputy Chairman reserved his ruling over the admissibility of the privilege motion after Leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Leader of Opposition Wasim Sajjad and Law Minister Babar Awan in their opinion said that the lady was a private functionary and a privilege motion could not be referred to the privilege committee of the House.
Mandokhel said "I don't believe that Salman Taseer was a martyred rather he was a blasphemer and those giving him (Salman Taseer) title of "Shaheed" aree also blasphemers", he said. In this regard there were different views of the members on assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. Some members were views that Salman Taseer is Shaheed but some were denying about it.