India issues demarche to High Commission of Pakistan over demolition of houses of Hindus in Punjab province

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. | File image  |  Photo Credit: PTI

India issued a “strong” demarche to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi over the “systematic and targeted” demolition of houses belonging to the minority Hindu community in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

New Delhi: Religious persecution of minorities continues to be rampant in Pakistan and even after multiple appeals by the Indian government to the Islamic nation to protect the rights of religious minorities in the country, the Imran Khan government seems to turn a blind eye to the atrocities meted out to minorities there.

In wake of a similar such incident, India on Tuesday issued a “strong” demarche to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi over the “systematic and targeted” demolition of houses that belonged to the minority Hindu community in Pakistan’s Punjab province, sources in the knowhow of the development said.

India categorically expressed concerned of the civil society over the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan.

“India issued a strong demarche to the Pakistani High Commission on the systematic and targeted demolition of houses belonging to minority Hindu community in Chak 52/DB, Yazman, Punjab in Pakistan,” news agency PTI quoted a government source as saying.

The sources further said that members of the civil society in India have expressed serious concerns and anguish at the targeted and continued persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan.

They have also strongly condemned the incident, where in state authorities targeted the minority Hindu community despite the occupants producing valid documents of ownership and legal relief granted against demolition.

The sources revealed that India has asked the Pakistan High Commission to inform the relevant authorities in their home country for an “urgent remedial action”.

India has also expressed hope that Pakistan will look into the matter and ensure safety security, rights and freedom to all its citizens, even those belonging to the minority communities.

Back in February, posters with hate-filled messages against Hindus were put up by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) across Lahore on Kashmir Day.

The posters read “Hindu baat se nahin laat se manta hai” in Urdu and carried photographs of Imran Khan, Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and PTI’s Lahore General Secretary.

Source: Times Now