Pakistan Discriminates Hindus, Refuses Food Distribution Due To Coronavirus Risks

The combat against coronavirus has become tougher and tougher that needs sharing from everyone in the world. Some countries even give a hand to some heavily-affected ones and unite together to find a solution to end this deadly pandemic. However, Pakistan keeps discriminating against some religions including Hindus and Christian to prevent the danger of infection.

According to the Muslims in Pakistan, these minorities haven't been supplied with food from the government. A Hindu man bewailed:

"Authorities are not helping us during the lockdown, the ration is also not being provided to us because we are part of a minority community."

Various marginalized people make a big gathering in front of Rehrri Ghoth in Karachi to get daily necessities and food since stores and shops close due to the coronavirus outbreak. But only Muslims are not part of the rations and they are asked to leave the gathering.

Another member of Karachi's Hindu community claimed:

"We only hear that people in our neighborhoods are receiving essential goods. My son drives the rickshaw. Due to the lockdown, all services have been suspended. He is sitting idle at home. We do not have anything to eat. We have no money. Even when we visit the ration distribution centers, the authorities assure us that they will send essential items in separate trucks but eventually they don't. Why is such a discrimination against us? The disease is affecting every one of us. Why is nobody cooperating with us?"

Hindu community covers 4 percent of Pakistan's population. It is considered as a minority to suffer aggressive discrimination from this country and people belonging to this community mostly can't get basic human rights.

Only when it comes to the outcry and pressure from the world about the minorities' condition in Pakistan, in 2019, the government directed by Imran Khan made a decision to rejuvenate more than 400 Hindu temples under destruction from years to years.

Nonetheless, the condition hasn't been better after one year when only 12 temples could work in the country. Not stop then, the discrimination gets worse right amidst the coronavirus crisis over the globe. Another member added that the police even chase them if they were seen to get out of their houses. From last week till now, there hasn't been any ration at their homes.

Earlier, the Sindh government requested for the ration distribution during the lockdown through local administration and NGOs to support daily wage laborers and workers. After that, the local administration collaborates with the district government to distribute food and other necessities.

A person included in Karachi's Christian community, on the other hand, complained:

"This is the second week of lockdown and we have no food at home. The officials only visit us to ask for votes. We don't even have money to buy food. Our daily living has been suspended due to the lockdown. Nobody has asked us so far regarding the problems we are facing."

As it is known, all people under the Sindh government, as well as Hindus from Sachal Ghoth, Liyari, and other places of Karachi have been denied to receive a ration of food and other essential supplies from the government whenever they are Hindus.

Political activist Amjad Ayub Mirza warned that a severe food crisis is now happening in the minorities' communities. He required the Indian government to send their supplies to the Sindh government via Rajasthan. Moreover, he also adjured PM Narendra Modi and the UN to have skin in the game of humanitarian issues in Sindh. Over 500,000 Hindus are living in Sindh, Pakistan.