Human rights defenders, minority rights activists, and civil society representatives have urged
the government to ensure adequate political representation for scheduled caste Hindus,
pointing out that the existing electoral framework only allows upper caste Hindus to gain access
to reserved seats in assemblies.
The demand was raised during launching of a report at Karachi Press Club on January 5, 2023,
attended by Member of National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) for Sindh, Ms. Anis
Haroon; Dr. Sono Khangharani of Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PSDN); Member of National
Commission for the Rights of Child, Mr. Pirbhu Lal Satyani; Member of Sindh Human Rights
Commission, Mr. Zulfiqar Shah; and PSDN members, Ms. Bhagwani Rathor and Ms. Pushpa
Kumari.
The speakers stressed that the report provides compelling evidence of the systemic
discrimination faced by scheduled caste Hindus, Dalits, and janitorial workers from the Christian
community.
Mr. Satyani/ noted that more than 80 percent of Hindus in Pakistan belong to the scheduled
castes, with the majority working in the agricultural sector, yet they remain deprived of
fundamental rights and basic facilities. The report documents the exclusion of these
communities from mainstream society and describes it as a “call to action” for their
constitutional rights.
The report highlights that Dalits and other lower caste minorities are routinely confined to low-
paying, menial jobs and denied access to quality education, healthcare, and clean living
conditions. Settlements of these groups often lack basic infrastructure such as clean water,
sanitation, and housing. The report emphasizes that such entrenched discrimination, based on
work and descent, continues to undermine social justice in Pakistan.
To safeguard the rights of marginalized communities, the report proposes establishing a Dalit
Rights Commission, district-level monitoring committees, and a dedicated complaint cell for
rights violations. It further recommends capacity building of law enforcement agencies to
respond effectively to caste-based violence, the banning of untouchability, scholarships for
Dalit students in law colleges, and the formation of a commission to investigate forced
conversions and marriages. The authors underscore that enforcement of existing laws, coupled
with new legislation, research, and caste-wise data collection, is essential for long-term change.
The report acknowledges the contributions of the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated
on Work and Descent, including Mr. Paul Divakar Namala, Mr. Aloysius SJ, and Mr. Naveen
Gautam, for conceptualizing its structure, and commends the dedicated work of Mr. Pirbhu
Satinyani and Ms. Bhagwani Rathore in authoring it. Overall, the report serves as a vital
advocacy tool for ensuring equality, dignity, and justice for marginalized communities in
Pakistan, and calls upon the state and civil society to act collectively towards building an
inclusive and equitable society.
