Petition sponsored by a Canadian MP to end atrocities against Sindhi Hindus

06.05.2022

Fatima Orujova

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

         A petition has just been sponsored by a Canadian MP, Garnett Genuisa against marginalisation of ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan (World Sindhi Congress, 2022). The petition specifically focuses on blasphemy laws and forced abductions and conversions of Hindu girls in the country (World Sindhi Congress, 2022). One of the prominent actors that strongly advocated the start of the petition was World Sindhi Congress. 

  A particular case that the petition addresses is the life imprisonment of a Hindu teacher, Notan Lal (World Sindhi Congress, 2022). Lal was sentenced to life imprisonment and faced Rs 50,000 fine over a blasphemy report by his student on February 8th, 2022 (Soomro, 2022). The student had reported that on September 16th, 2019, Lal made blasphemous remarks on the religion of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (OpIndia, 2022; Soomro, 2022). Despite the fact that the student later made a confession that what he said about Lal was a lie, the Court still charged Lal with life imprisonment (OpIndia, 2022; Soomro, 2022). 

  The petition can be signed by everyone, non-Canadians and Canadians, via this link https://www.garnettgenuismp.ca/human_rights_in_pakistan?fbclid=IwAR0NPEWnLMoH4_S4ORXyGtrbyYcQ74Y97FegJnVvtDJK0SjBAr_SEZSMYws and by Canadian citizens only via this link https://www.garnettgenuismp.ca/human_rights_in_pakistan?fbclid=IwAR0NPEWnLMoH4_S4ORXyGtrbyYcQ74Y97FegJnVvtDJK0SjBAr_SEZSMYws

Further reading and sources

Garnett Genuis. (2022). Human Rights for Minorities in Pakistan. Garnett Genius M.P. Retrieved May 6, 2022 from https://www.garnettgenuismp.ca/human_rights_in_pakistan?fbclid=IwAR0NPEWnLMoH4_S4ORXyGtrbyYcQ74Y97FegJnVvtDJK0SjBAr_SEZSMYws 

OpIndia. (2022, February 8). Pakistan: 2 years after being attacked over a false allegation of 

‘blasphemy’, Hindu teacher awarded life imprisonment. OpIndia. Retrieved May 6, 2022,  from https://www.opindia.com/2022/02/pakistan-2-years-after-being-attacked-over-a-false-allegation-of-blasphemy-hindu-teacher-sentenced-to-25-years-in-jail/ 

Soomro, I. (2022, February 9). Minority teacher awarded life imprisonment over blasphemy. The 

News International. Retrieved May 6, 2022, from https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/932027-minority-teacher-awarded-life-imprisonment-over-blasphemy 

World Sindhi Congress. (2022, May 4). Canadian MP Garnett Genuis has sponsored a Parliamentary Petition against Blasphemy law in Pakistan, forced conversion of Hindu Girls, forced abduction and the Notan Lal Case. Facebook. Retrieved May 6, 2022 from https://www.facebook.com/255036881278561/posts/5096998973748970/