By Aroosa Masroor Khan
KARACHI: After the recent earthquake, most Hindu families decided to celebrate Diwali with simplicity this year but Sanao Amra’s family had different reasons for observing the occasion with solemnity. Three of his daughters were kidnapped from Punjab Colony, Gizri where they reside earlier this month. The family still does not know where they are hope that they are safe and will eventually be allowed to rejoin their family.
On 18th October when Sanao Amra’s wife, Champa, returned home from work, her daughters were nowhere to be found. Unable to understand what had exactly happened behind her back, she inquired about their whereabouts from her neighbours. The neighbours initially said they had not seen the girls, but later told Champa that the elder daughters Reena, 21 and Usha, 19, were seen rushing out of home towards their younger sister Reema’s school from where perhaps all the sisters were kidnapped.
Sanao Amra searched for his daughters for 2-3 days after which he went to the police. They turned down his pleas for help by saying that the government had not provided them with proper means of investigation and therefore there was not much they could do. The refusal by the police did not leave much for the family to hope. Then a few days later, one of the neighbours handed some documents to Sanao, which they said that they had received through courier. The documents stated that their daughters had embraced Islam and was signed by them too.
Suspecting three boys from his neighbourhood, Sanao Amra lodged an FIR against them after which they were promptly arrested by the police. But the court granted them bail because they were underaged for legal punishment. The boys are now free but the whereabouts of the sisters are unknown.
One of the boys, Abid, had informed the girls’ family that the girls had embraced Islam a year ago, but the father did not believe him. "No sane person would ever fall for that. My daughters were kidnapped on the 18th and the documents state that they accepted Islam on that day itself, if at all." He said that he had been with his daughters for years and was very well aware of their thoughts and actions. He said they showed no sign of an inclination towards Islam before this, which is why he is sure they were being pressurized. "I don’t know what they made my daughters do and how they convinced them to sign those papers but I am sure it was done without their wilful consent," said the father.
His wife, Champa, shared his views in this regard. She was expressionless when asked about her daughters. She said: "It has been fifteen days now and I’m still hoping my daughters will return...even if they have embraced Islam the kidnappers should leave them back or at least bring them to us once instead of hiding away like cowards. I would want to see me daughters accept the fact in front of me."
She said that they had done everything to spread the news of the daughters’ kidnappings, but no response had come so far. "The kidnappers haven’t contacted us either, I have been waiting near the phone just in case my daughters call," disclosed the mother. They were happy girls content with their lives. The elder daughters Reena and Usha were also engaged to be married soon.
Sanao added that kidnapping Hindus and making them embrace Islam is not a new practice for their minority. "This has been happening for years, it’s just that we belong to a suppressed class and are scared of involving the police and the media which is why such cases weren’t highlighted before. This is the first time anybody from my community has taken this step and I am not going to withdraw the case, but I can nothing by myself until I have the police or some government official to help me investigate."
His health has been deteriorating as a result of this incident too. The remaining members of the family, which include a young daughter and son, have not eaten well for the past fifteen days. They are waiting all day with the hope of receiving some news about the whereabouts of their daughters. Another fear that is haunting the mother is that her daughters could have been killed, but she chooses to remain optimistic. "I still have faith in God," she said.
The father also said that it was ironical that in this holy month of Ramazan, when Muslims generally become God-fearing, there are still some people who are diverted from the real practice of Islam. "I have studied Islam too and really respect the religion for what it preaches. It certainly does not talk about forceful acceptance into the religion. This is no way to persuade...I am surprised at the minimal attention the govt is giving to this issue."
One of the cousins of the girls, Raju, added that they have always considered Pakistan as their own country and the kind of discrimination their community has been experiencing now never happened before. The Hindus in Karachi are not recent settlers, they were a part of Pakistan even before partition. Raju said: "We feel now we are not wanted here and can no longer term ourselves as Pakistanis. Leaving the religious differences aside, we are the citizens of this country first then why are we being treated as outcasts?"
He said the negligence of the government in proceeding with the case any further reveals that they are themselves involved in this. He mentioned that the police are trying to silence the family by telling them that the culprits, like in case of previous kidnappings, will not be caught this time either so they should not bother.
"How can they be so insensitive? Our community members even held a demonstration outside Karachi Press Club to condemn the kidnapping of my daughters but they turned a deaf ear to our call. I have been watching news on T.V. as well, but not a single channel has talked about my daughters even once," said the father.
He pleaded with the government to take note of the situation and consider the rights of the minorities that were promised when the country came into existence decades ago. The case of the three kidnapped Hindu girls once again challenges the concept of enlightened moderation that the government has been propagating for some years now.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2005-daily/04-11-2005/metro/k3.htm 
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