Swaraj assures help to Pakistani Hindus

The welfare of minorities in Pakistan, including Hindus, will be monitored closely and issues taken up at appropriate meetings, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.

Swaraj also assured taking up with Pakistan the difficulties faced by Hindus there in getting their marriages registered.

These assurances was given by Swaraj to Rajya Sabha BJP MP from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna, who wrote to her highlighting the problems being faced by the Hindus in the neighbouring country.

"I want to convey assurance of the Government that we will continue to monitor developments affecting the welfare of minorities in Pakistan and take up the issues at all appropriate meetings," the Minister said in her reply to Khanna.

She added the government was aware of reports of problems faced by members of minority communities, including Hindus, and had taken up the matter with Pakistan in the past.

The Pakistan government, she said, was fully cognizant of the situation and claimed to be looking after the welfare of all its citizens, particularly the minority community.

Khanna, in his letter, had highlighted the problems of Hindus in Pakistan and said they were facing difficulty in getting marriage certificates issued there.

"Many Hindus are facing problems in Pakistan as the authorities are not issuing marriage certificates to them there and their plight is bad," he said.