Concerns Grow Over Safety of Hindus in Pakistan Following Reports of Abductions and Forced Conversions
A series of recent incidents involving Hindu women and girls in Pakistan’s Sindh province has renewed concerns about the safety and security of the country’s Hindu minority. Rights groups and community representatives have long raised alarms over allegations of abductions, forced religious conversions, and forced marriages, particularly involving Hindu women and underage girls. The latest cases have once again brought these issues into focus, with several families alleging that their daughters were taken against their will and pressured to convert to Islam.
One of the cases involved 21-year-old Shirimati Reeta from Khipro in Sanghar district, who reportedly disappeared from her home during the night of August 23–24. According to a complaint filed by her brother, unknown individuals allegedly took her from the family residence along with mobile phones and valuables. The family later claimed that Reeta had been taken to Gujranwala in Punjab and pressured to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man identified as Nazeer Hussain. Punjab police subsequently located her and presented her before a magistrate. During the hearing, Reeta reportedly expressed her desire to return to her family, after which the court permitted her to leave with her brother.
Another widely reported case involved two Hindu sisters from Tando Allahyar, identified as 13-year-old Sita and 14-year-old Rupi. Their family alleged that the girls had been abducted, converted to Islam, and married to two Muslim men. Authorities later produced the sisters before a local court, which ordered that they be placed in protective custody rather than immediately returned to their parents. Videos circulating after the hearing appeared to show the girls requesting permission to go home. Minority rights advocates have called for an independent verification of the girls’ ages and access to independent legal representation. Reports indicate that the sisters remain in state protection while legal proceedings continue.
A third case emerged shortly afterward from the same district, involving 14-year-old Pansi Kolhi, who was reportedly abducted from Ashfaq Town on September 9. Her family filed a police complaint and appealed for assistance in locating her. However, no official update has been released regarding her whereabouts, and she remains missing according to the latest available reports.
Community leaders have also claimed that as many as six Hindu girls were abducted in the Tando Allahyar area within a span of roughly ten days. While this figure has not been independently verified, it has intensified concerns within the Hindu community. Human rights organizations note that allegations of forced conversion and marriage involving minority girls have been repeatedly documented over the years, particularly in Sindh.
Statistics compiled by Pakistan’s Center for Social Justice indicate that minority women and girls continue to face significant risks. The organization recorded 83 reported cases involving the abduction of minority women and girls in 2024, including 52 Hindu victims. In 2025, the number reportedly rose to 94 cases, with 71 involving Hindu women and girls. Rights groups have argued that the true figures may be higher, as many families are reluctant to come forward due to fear of retaliation or limited access to legal remedies.
Beyond the cases involving women and girls, concerns have also been raised about the reported disappearance of Hindu trader Gobindram and his grandson Besham from Tando Adam in Sanghar district. Their family alleged that police personnel took both men from their business premises on September 2 and that they have received little information regarding their whereabouts. Authorities have not publicly clarified the circumstances of the case, and it remains unclear whether the two men are in custody.
Although these incidents involve different individuals and circumstances, they have collectively heightened anxiety within Sindh’s Hindu community. Community representatives and rights advocates argue that the recurring allegations of abduction, forced conversion, coercion, and unexplained disappearances highlight the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities and underscore calls for stronger legal protections, transparent investigations, and greater accountability from authorities.
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