'Underage Girls From Minority Communities Being Forcefully Converted In Pakistan': India At UNHRC

India on Friday asked Islamabad about the forced conversions of "Underage girls" to Islam.

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Slamming Pakistan "for once again misuing" the United Nations Human Rights Council platform for peddling its "malicious propaganda", India on Friday said no religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today, ANI reported

Speaking at the council, India in its "Right to Reply" stated: "Underage girls from the community are converted to Islam abetted by a predatory state & an apathetic judiciary. Hindu & Sikh communities face similar issues of frequent attack on their places of worship and forced conversion of their underage girls."

"Underage girls from the community are converted to Islam abetted by a predatory state & an apathetic judiciary. Hindu & Sikh communities face similar issues of frequent attack on their places of worship and forced conversion of their underage girls.": India at UNHRC

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2023

Highlighting Pakistan's "blasphemy laws," India stated: "Equally worse is the treatment of the Christian community. It is frequently targeted through draconian blasphemy laws. State institutions officially reserve ‘sanitation’ jobs for Christians."

"No religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today. The Ahmadiya community continues to be persecuted by the state for simply practicing their faith," India further stated. 

"No religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today. The Ahmadiya community continues to be persecuted by the state for simply practicing their faith": India's Right of Reply in response to statement delivered by Pakistan at Human Rights Council, UN

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2023

According to India, Pakistan's Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has received as many as 8,463 complaints during the previous decade. "The Baloch people have borne the brunt of this cruel policy. Students, doctors, engineers, teachers & community leaders are regularly disappeared by the State," India said. 

Earlier addressing the UNHRC, Pakistan’s junior foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar had urged states to be consistent in their support for the protection of Kashmiris' rights. "Pakistan reiterated strong condemnation for the recent intentional burning of the Holy Quran in three countries.  International financial institutions needed to undertake special measures to support developing countries in protecting basic rights to food, livelihood, and a decent living," she stated. 

(With Inputs From ANI)