Forced conversions and marriages of minorities: panel to consult stakeholders for preparing draft

The Parliamentary Committee to Protect Minorities from Forced Conversion has decided to engage all stakeholders and hold dialogues and consultative sessions with the provincial governments, local administration, religious scholars, civil society and representatives of minorities for preparing a draft legislation to address the issue of forced conversions and marriages of minorities.

The committee met with Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar in the chair at the Parliament House on Friday. The members discussed the terms of reference (ToR) for the committee and decided to include international obligations of the state about the issue of minorities in it. The committee approved the ToR.

Members of the committee thoroughly debated the issue and agreed that the nature and sensitivity of the issue require in-depth study and consideration.

Chairman of the Committee Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar observed that the issue is more sensitive and complicated and the committee will explore all the aspects to get firsthand information about the matter. He said that most of this issue is relating to the provinces and the legislation would be limited for Islamabad territory. "However, we would provide foundation in the law which would become helping hand of the provincial assemblies for legislation to address the issue of forced conversions and marriages," he said.

He said that the committee would undertake visits to different provinces and hold meetings with provincial governments, opposition members, civil administration and police officials so as to create an integrated system of diction, reporting, vigilance and response concerning forced conversion cases. He said that the committee would be in a position to put forward some important recommendations within a period of six months to one year.

Shagufta Jumani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that there are many cases in which the girls of Hindu or other community were not kidnapped but they went with boys willingly and contracted marriages after conversion. She said, "We should deeply study this issue."

"We have to determine, either the girl was kidnapped or went with her volition. The role of local administration is very important for implementation of the law. There should be security for those girls who make conversion and get marriage. In such cases, there are reports that the parents either Muslim or non-Muslim may harm the girls," she said.

She said that Sindh Assembly has passed such bill on this issue and the committee should also discus it.

Naveed Aamir Jeeva said that no religion allows forced conversion. There is need to define the conversion. He said that the committee should also discuss the bill of Sindh Assembly in this regard.

Dr Remesh Kumar said that all stakeholders including religious scholars should be engaged to hold dialogue with them for preparing recommendations for legislation.

Federal Minister for Religion Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said that the committee has been constituted under the direction of the Prime Minister. He said that the committee should also consider the existing laws in this regard. He said, "We will have to ensure that law is not misused." He said that the committee should hold dialogues with provinces for this legislation. He said that most of these issues are related to the provinces and there are not such cases reported in the federal capital.

The committee also decided to open public hearings and invite representatives of minority groups, media and civil society organizations so as to firm up concrete recommendations for strengthening legal and policy framework to stop forced conversions.

In order to benefit from international experiences, the committee will undertake visits to foreign countries and meet government officials, parliamentary leaders and chairpersons of relevant parliamentary committees, besides studying local laws, policies and legislations, so as to incorporate practices and tailor-made interventions in improving parliamentary oversight and response mechanism, procedures and modus operandi in dealing with such practices.