Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah convened a meeting with leaders from the Hindu community of Larkana and Sukkur Division, where he announced that his government had recruited individuals from the Kolhi, Bhil, and Meghwar communities into the Sindh Police as part of an inclusive hiring policy.
He addressed the misconception that Hindus are specifically targeted in kidnapping cases, clarifying that in the fiscal year 2024-25, out of 310 reported kidnappings, only eight victims were Hindus.
Of these eight cases, seven individuals have been successfully recovered, leaving only one case involving a Hindu man named Rajesh unresolved.
He further stated that apart from the Hindu victim, five Muslim individuals also remain unrecovered in the current kidnapping cases. Otherwise, the government has significantly curbed kidnappings for ransom.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah meets leaders from the Hindu community of Larkana and Sukkur Division at CM House on April 9, 2025. — Facebook/SindhCMHouse
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Jameel Soomro, Rajveer Singh, Lal Chand Ukrani, Veerji Kolhi, Sukh Dev Asardas, and senior officials including the chief secretary, home secretary, inspector general police (IGP) Sindh, and other relevant officers.
At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Minister Murad acknowledged the Hindu community as the original inhabitants of Sindh, recognizing their substantial contributions to the province’s development across various sectors such as trade, commerce, education, and health.
Shah emphasized that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has clearly stated that any injustice against minorities is unacceptable, and the Sindh government is dedicated to prioritizing the resolution of issues faced by the Hindu community.
The chief minister reviewed the law-and-order situation, particularly in divisions like Kashmore and Kandhkot, which have reported instances of insecurity.
He noted that while the situation in Shikarpur and Larkana has shown improvement, continued efforts are still necessary. Reports also highlighted an increase in the theft of motorcycles and cars in Larkana.
Members of the Hindu community voiced concerns regarding the illegal occupation of temple lands (ghonsalas), cases of kidnapping, and land grabbing.
They reported that Rajesh has been missing for five months, prompting the chief minister to instruct the IGP to give top priority to his recovery.
The Sindh home minister and IGP briefed the chief minister on ongoing crackdowns against criminals and dacoits in the riverine areas, informing him that 152 dacoits have been targeted in operations, during which 20 police officers have been martyred.
“Sindh provides greater protection to its minorities than any other province,” he asserted. “The PPP has never abandoned its minority communities and never will,” he affirmed.
To ensure enhanced coordination and the swift resolution of issues, the chief minister announced the formation of committees in each division, comprising representatives from the Hindu panchayat, commissioners, and Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) to address the community’s concerns.
Chief Minister Murad directed the police to take action against street crime in all major cities, reiterating the government’s firm stance: “We will eliminate criminals, not collaborate with them,” he concluded.
