Exodus of Pakistani Hindus intensifies amid violence and extortion in Sindh: HRCP report

Pakistan's Hindu minority is facing an escalating exodus from the southern province of Sindh, driven by extortion, kidnappings, and forced religious conversions, according to a new human rights report.

At a press briefing in Karachi, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt revealed that 1,300 Pakistanis currently have pending applications for Indian citizenship, with many having resided in India for years. While wealthy migrants find relative stability, poorer ones face severe hardships.

Minority rights activist Pushpa Kumari (L) and HRCP chairman Asad Iqbal Butt (R) pictured at HRCP's report launch and press briefing on January 22, 2025.Nukta

The HRCP study found that Hindu traders in Sindh's northern districts must align themselves with powerful tribal leaders as "silent partners," paying up to 30% of their profits for protection. "We display their names on our businesses to protect ourselves from dacoits," one Hindu businessman told researchers. "This strategy has been successful in ensuring our safety."

The report documents specific incidents highlighting the security crisis. In January 2024, Hindu trader Retak Kumar was kidnapped from Mirpur Mathelo and held for 44 days. In September 2023, dacoits kidnapped three Hindu community members, including a nine-year-old, from Kashmore. Community leaders revealed that ransoms typically range from PKR 5-10 million, with many cases going unreported.

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Journalist and HRCP Council Member Sohail Sangi raised concerns about the perception of certain state institutions’ involvement in the migration, emphasizing that such claims, if valid, warrant serious attention. He urged local elected representatives to actively assure the Hindu community of their safety and protection.

'Muslims must also play a role'

Rajvir Singh Sodha, an advisor on minority affairs for the Sindh government, admitted the prevalence of forced conversions in Sindh and acknowledged the government’s failure to pass the anti-forced conversion bill, attributing it to strong societal resistance that forced the administration to retreat.

Special Assistant to CM Sindh for Human Rights Rajvir Singh Sodha pictured at HRCP's report launch and press briefing on January 22, 2025. Nukta

The study cites particular vulnerability in Ghotki district, where the seminary of Mian Abdul Haq (known as Mian Mithu) is frequently cited as a key location for alleged forced conversions. While he maintains these are voluntary, Hindu community leaders argue that the girls, often minors, are too young to make such life-altering decisions. The complete absence of similar cases involving Hindu boys casts further doubt on the legitimacy of these conversions.

In Jacobabad, where Hindu traders traditionally dominate main bazaars, shopkeepers report discriminatory practices by electricity providers, including inflated bills despite consistent payment histories. "They're reluctantly selling their businesses and leaving the country," a local Hindu trader told HRCP researchers.

Sodha acknowledged the challenges faced by the Hindu community. He emphasized that Muslims must also play a role in ensuring the safety of Hindus, noting that tribal support often shields Muslims from similar threats, a privilege not extended to Hindus.

Climate change exacerbating migration

The report’s findings also highlight the role of climate change in exacerbating economic difficulties for Sindh’s Hindu population. Floods and persistent rains have not only disrupted agriculture but have also displaced businesses tied to rice cultivation and processing.

Imdad Khoso, HRCP District Coordinator from Kashmore, underscored climate change as a significant factor driving migration. He noted that the region’s reliance on rice cultivation and associated industries has been devastated by ongoing rains and floods, leading to substantial financial losses for the Hindu community. Khoso revealed that 500 families from Kashmore alone have applied for visas.

HRCP signboard pictured outside HRCP's office in Karachi on January 22, 2025.Nukta

The report notes that temperatures in Jacobabad soared to 51 degrees Celsius during the study period, with power outages lasting 12-18 hours. A local businessman testified: "Visiting Indian cities like Indore, people find the weather comparatively pleasant. The stark contrast makes migration to cooler regions increasingly attractive."

The mass migration of Hindus from Sindh underscores what the HRCP report identifies as "deep-seated issues in Pakistan." The study concludes that addressing these challenges requires federal and provincial governments to prioritize the security and wellbeing of all citizens, regardless of religion. Only through sustained commitments to justice, security, and equality, the report argues, can future generations of Sindh's Hindus hope to find stability without seeking refuge elsewhere.