Sharif appeals to Hindus to not leave country despite problems

In an admission to reports that some Hindu families had started migrating to India because of violence and oppression against them in some towns of the southern Sindh province, Sharif said it was appalling how the government is ignoring the minorities in Sindh.

He told reporters today in the city that minorities had as much rights in Pakistan as Muslims.

"I don't think the vision of Pakistan is complete without our minorities be it Hindus or Christians," the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief said.

He insisted that if his party came into power it would remove all complaints and misgivings of the Hindu community.

"I appeal to our Hindu brothers and sisters to not leave Pakistan. This is your country as much as it is of any Muslim," he added.

The government has played down reports about some Hindu families travelling to India on visit visas and not returning home after suffering from violence and injustice in towns like Jacobabad, Shikarpur and in Tharparkar.