NEW DELHI: The Union government informed Parliament on Thursday that there have been reports of atrocities against minority communities in Pakistan, including Hindus. Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh provided this information in a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha.
The ministry of external affairs was asked whether the government was aware that members of the Hindu community were migrating from Sindh province due to violence and discrimination.
“There have been reports of atrocities against minority communities in Pakistan, including against the members of Hindu community. Incidents such as intimidation, abduction, persecution, forced conversions and forced marriages, which compel them to migrate, have been reported from time to time,” Singh said.
He was also asked if the government had any data on Hindus migrating from Pakistan to India.
Singh responded that several members of the Hindu community in Pakistan apply for Indian visas at the High Commission of India in Islamabad. “These applications are processed as per extant rules. Some of them who entered India on valid visas have not gone back to Pakistan on the grounds of religious persecution,” he said.
He further added that Hindu migrants from Pakistan who seek permanent settlement and Indian citizenship are eligible for a Long Term Visa (LTV) under existing provisions.