Karachi
Taking action on the request of the Pakistan Hindu Council, the Sanghar police arrested a shopkeeper in Tando Adam for selling shoes inscribed with “Om”, a religious symbol for the Hindu community, revealed the council’s patron-in-chief MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani while talking to a Hindu delegation on Monday led by Engineer Hotchand Karmani.
An FIR (No 124/2016) under section 295-A of the Pakistan penal Code was registered against the accused shopkeeper Jahanzab, son of Shaukat Ali Khaskhili, said Dr Vankwani. “The shopkeeper was arrested and the shoes in question have also been confiscated. Police officials have found that the shoes were actually purchased from ‘Naeem Footwear’ based in Moti Bazar, Lahore, and in this regard the Punjab police is also being approached for taking action against the manufacturer of the shoes who is also based in Punjab.”
Dr Vankwani said the selling of Om shoes could have angered the religious sentiments of Hindu community across the country and had the potential to enrage the minority community, not just in Pakistan but internationally as well.
“The incident of shelling Om shoes has raised a new wave of peaceful activism by all stakeholders of civil society across the country who not only condemn this act but also express solidarity with the Pakistani Hindu community,” remarked Engineer Hotchand Karmani.
He said the Hindu community of Pakistan was thankful to the Pakistan Hindu Council for highlighting the issue in the media so authorities could take notice. It was said that Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also took notice of the council’s press statement and described the action as “unacceptable”.
Dr Vankwani said it was unethical and highly immoral to insult any religion be they of minority or majority section of any country. “The state must play a proactive role for punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws,” he demanded, while requesting the prime minister to take strict action against such a despicable crime. He also expressed his gratitude for the trust that his community members had placed in him and assured them that he will not rest till solid action was taken against the shopkeeper.
