Author: Kelash K. Motwani
Publication: Dawn
Date: January 29, 2007
URL: http://dawn.com/2007/01/29/letted.htm#6
The World Sindhi Institute expresses its deep
concern over missing 17-year-old girl Deepa Kumari from her home in Tharparkar,
Sindh, since Dec 31. The law and order situation in Sindh has broken down
to such an extent that about four weeks have passed and the parties concerned
are simply waiting for notables to assemble and come up with some solution.
All this time they had been waiting for Sindh
Chief Minister Arbab Rahim to return from Saudi Arabia, where he went to perform
pilgrimage (Haj). Upon his arrival, he too has suggested that the notables
of the area arrange a jirga on this case.
Until then, we are told, nothing can be done
or expected to be known about the missing young girl.
Deepa Kumari's sudden disappearance is distinctive
because she belongs to the Hindu religious minority group and has been seen
last with a Muslim man, who was her tutor. According to one source, she was
allegedly abducted on Dec 31 by a local schoolteacher.
After a few days she was brought at a madressah
managed by Pir Ayub Jan Sirhindhi near Gulzar Khalil village, Samaro city,
Mirpurkhas district, Sindh.
She was then forcibly converted to become
a Muslim and was married to the young man who took her there. According to
another source, Ms Deepa went along with her tutor; Ashraf Kheskeli, on her
own consent to Pir Sirhindhi's madressah and agreed to convert to a Muslim
before marrying Mr Kheskeli.
They both then went to start a new life together
and now the care-takers of the madressah have no knowledge of their whereabouts.
Whether with or without consent, this case
clearly depicts a dismal situation, whereby a 17-year-old girl from a religious
minority has to give up her religion and family in order to pursue married
life with a young man from another religion.
If this act is performed after forcible abduction,
it is heinous. Even in order to ascertain her status, the parents and relatives
of the girl have no authority or institution to turn to.
The police will not register a case and the
Sirhindi pirs who proselytise in the area and allegedly involved in the case
and apparently want to clear their own name are also waiting for the chief
minister to return. This demonstrates the supportive role of the government
for the fundamental religious authorities in the area.
This case is a sign of absolute anarchy and
lack of governance. Such incidences have terrified other Hindu families in
Pakistan, where religious fundamentalism has started invading the homes of
citizens.
WSI condemns the apathetic approach of the
authorities concerned and demands that strict and urgent action be taken for
finding the facts and whereabouts of Deepa Kumari.