Last Saturday, Shri Rama Pir Mandir, a century-old Hindu temple in Soldier Bazaar in Karachi, along with surrounding houses of the Hindus, was destroyed by the authorities. Although the Sindh High Court is hearing a petition on the matter, Karachi police denied the existence of the temple altogether.

Of course, this is not the first time the Hindus have been targeted in Pakistan. Pakistan Hindu Council contends that more than 50 Hindu families are migrating to India every month due to the persecution they face in Pakistan. Even though the case of forced conversion and marriage of a Hindu girl, Rinkle Kumari attracted a lot of media attention earlier this year, not much has changed on the ground. Those staying there live under the constant threat of forced conversions, demolition and desecration of temples, kidnapping for ransom and demands for protection money. This year during the month of Ramzan, Maya Khan, a popular TV anchor, converted, with great personal pride, a Hindu boy on her live show at ARY. Rather than being denounced, such forced conversions are now being celebrated.