AMRITSAR: The rejection of the draft bill on forced conversion by a parliamentary committee in Pakistan has left the minority communities a dejected lot, given the incidents of conversion, mostly of minor girls, into Islam.
Talking to TOI on Thursday Pakistan ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf Hindu Member National Assembly Lal Chand Malhi said, “The rejection of draft bill without voting by convenor of the parliamentary committee was against the rules. The law is must to protect honour of minority girls... We cannot say minorities are safe till the proposed bill is passed.” The minority parliamentarians in Pakistan want that conversion should be allowed at the age of 18. A group of Muslim clerics had been opposing draft bill that would allow only those above 18 to change religion.
Expressing dismay over the opposition of the draft bill, he said the minority parliamentarians would soon raise the issue with PM Imran Khan.
Calling it a “sad day for non-Muslims”, Pakistan’s National Commission for Minorities member Dr Jaipal Chhabria said, “We demand conversion age should be 18 and above. Even the All India Muslim League had passed a resolution in December 1927 at Kolkotta session that conversion below 18 years was not acceptable because at that time Muslim girls were converted.” He cited the example of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who married Rattanbai (Rutti) when she attained the age of 18. Strangely, Pakistan’s Sikh Member Provincial Assembly Mohinderpal Singh expressed ignorance about bill, saying it was a federal matter.
