‘Hindus face problems in Pakistan Punjab too’

A day after Pakistani parliamentarians denied persecution of Hindus in their country, a Pakistani Hindu living in India for over four years — who on Thursday returned from the neighbouring country after getting his and his family's identity cards renewed — said Hindus were facing problems not only in Sindh but in Pakistan's Punjab region as well.

"Though there are no forced conversions in Punjab like Sindh, but Hindus are facing problems there as well. They cannot even celebrate their festivals," said Roop Mehra, who originally hails from Sialkot and is running a boutique in Tuglaqabad area of New Delhi. He returned to India on Thursday on the Samjhauta Express, along with his wife and four children.

"Hindus in Pakistani Punjab want to settle in India. They are only waiting for an assurance from Indian government that they will be given citizenship and a platform to set up their business. Once India gives the assurance, Pakistani Hindus will make a beeline for India," he added.

A large number of Hindus have reached India via Samjhauta Express and Attari land border in the recent past. While many of those who have arrived asserted that they will return after their pilgrimage, a number of them are mulling over to stay back, alleging persecution of Hindus in Pakistan.

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