Attacks on Hindus in Sindh send ominous signals: Pakistani daily

To sit quietly as intolerance grows against non-Muslims is akin to acceptance of communalism, a leading Pakistani daily said Monday.

The frequent attacks on the Hindu community in Sindh province of Pakistan send ominous signals, the Dawn newspaper said in an editorial.

A Hindu temple in Hyderabad city of the province was set on fire by unidentified arsonists last week, resulting in damage to an idol and the structure itself, it said.

A dharamshala in Larkana was attacked by rioters after a Hindu man in the town was suspected of desecrating the holy Quran.

The newspaper said unless consistent efforts were made by the state and society to address such violent incidents, the situation will only deteriorate.

"A number of suspects were picked up Saturday while Sindh police officials are looking into different angles to unmask the culprits behind the temple attack," the newspaper said.

Apart from the involvement of extremists, the possible role of land-grabbers is also being examined.

Unless proper investigations were conducted, this case, like many before it, would remain unsolved and which would not bode well for religious harmony in Sindh, the editorial said.

"It is not enough to simply say that Sindh is the land of Sufis -- society must indicate through its actions that the message of amity and brotherhood preached by the mystics of yore is still alive in today's Sindh and that the hateful narrative of zealots has no place here," the newspaper said.

"The state, on its part, must bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice to show non-Muslims it is serious about protecting their places of worship and to send a strong message to communalists," it added.