Press Release

Denial of Minorities Religious Rights

continues in Pakistan

Karachi: It is regrettable that while Hindus all over the world celebrate Hanuman Jaynti Day – the birth anniversary of Hanuman, today, the residents of Pawmal Das Compound Opposite Kakri Ground, Lyari, Karachi , are deprived of access to the historical Shiv Mandir located on its premises. The ground has been taken over by a self-styled Pir Syed Hussain Mian Bukhari in contravention of the law.

The Pawmal Das Compound was constructed in 1901. More than 100 houses of the Hindu community were located here as well as an an old temple with the name of Shiv Mander. The compound was exclusively earmarked for Hindus by the Government of Sindh province under the Evacuee Property Act 1957. However, with the help of local authorities, land grabbers have been forcibly evicting residents from that compound. As a result, only 35 families are left there. Residents of the area have brought to the attention of HRCP the fact that butchers are turning the Compound on which a temple is situated into a slaughter area. This action by the local butchers is not only illegal, but provokes the sensitivities of Hindus. A fact-finding team of HRCP also confirms the veracity of the complaint made by the Hindu community. HRCP has also written to the authorities but to date, no action has yet been taken by any of the government's agencies to address this matter.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan once again demands of the Sindh government and the City Nazim to take immediate action against the encroachment to ensure the rights of the Hindus and in the larger interest of communal harmony.

Issued by:
Muhammad Ejaz Ahsan
Program Coordinator
HRCP Sindh


		HRCP April 2, 2007 Press Release Denial of Minorities Religious Rights continues in Pakistan Karachi: It is regrettable that while Hindus all over the world celebrate Hanuman Jaynti Day – the birth anniversary of Hanuman, today, the residents of Pawmal Das Compound Opposite Kakri Ground, Lyari, Karachi , are deprived of access to the historical Shiv Mandir located on its premises. The ground has been taken over by a self-styled Pir Syed Hussain Mian Bukhari in contravention of the law. The Pawmal Das Compound was constructed in 1901. More than 100 houses of the Hindu community were located here as well as an an old temple with the name of Shiv Mander. The compound was exclusively earmarked for Hindus by the Government of Sindh province under the Evacuee Property Act 1957. However, with the help of local authorities, land grabbers have been forcibly evicting residents from that compound. As a result, only 35 families are left there. Residents of the area have brought to the attention of HRCP the fact that butchers are turning the Compound on which a temple is situated into a slaughter area. This action by the local butchers is not only illegal, but provokes the sensitivities of Hindus. A fact-finding team of HRCP also confirms the veracity of the complaint made by the Hindu community. HRCP has also written to the authorities but to date, no action has yet been taken by any of the government's agencies to address this matter. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan once again demands of the Sindh government and the City Nazim to take immediate action against the encroachment to ensure the rights of the Hindus and in the larger interest of communal harmony. Issued by: Muhammad Ejaz Ahsan Program Coordinator HRCP Sindh Through nonviolent means, The World Sindhi Institute works relentlessly for universal human rights and humanitarian law for the Sindhis of Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan.