Shehbaz Sharif’s Diwali greetings ring hollow: How many Hindus are left in Pakistan to hear him?

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif - File Image

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and criticism seem to go hand in hand. The latest episode stems from his Diwali greetings to the country’s Hindu community, which many have slammed as hypocritical amid Pakistan’s persistent persecution of minorities. His message of “harmony and peace” rang hollow against the grim reality of abductions, forced conversions, temple demolitions, and systemic discrimination faced by Hindus in the country.

On one hand, Sharif was extending festive wishes to Hindus, and on the other, his Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had only months earlier reminded the nation’s children that “we are two nations, we are not one nation,” asserting that Pakistan’s forefathers saw themselves as fundamentally different from Hindus.

Together, the contrasting statements expose the deep contradictions within Pakistan’s political and military establishment, where public gestures of inclusivity coexist with institutionalised prejudice against non-Muslims and a state ideology that still defines itself in opposition to Hindus.

Sharif’s Diwali message and the online backlash

On Diwali, Sharif posted on X: “On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I extend my heartfelt greetings to our Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world. As homes and hearts are illuminated with the light of Diwali, may this festival dispel darkness, foster harmony, and guide us all toward a future of peace, compassion, and shared prosperity.”

He also said at a celebration hosted at his official residence that the festival carried “a beautiful message of happiness, peace and tolerance” and affirmed that “Muslim and non-Muslim Pakistanis stand shoulder to shoulder in defending the country.”

Instead of applause, his message sparked harsh responses. One journalist wrote: “After killing Hindus in Pahalgam, wishing Hindus on Diwali. Shameless Pakistan. They have systematically killed and converted Hindus, Christian and Sikh community in Pakistan. And Ahmediyas are discriminated and killed every week.”

Another user sneered: “Only 10-12 Hindus are left in Pakistan… You could have DM them directly.”

Across social media, the tone was clear: many saw the Diwali greeting as hollow, even ironic, given the documented abuses faced by minorities.

The harsh reality of Hindus in Pakistan

Minorities in Pakistan, especially Hindus, live under persistent distress, not occasional misfortune. Among the documented concerns, a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) shows that districts in Sindh such as Ghotki, Tharparkar and Umerkot remain “Hindu-abduction hubs” where underage girls are abducted, coerced into conversion to Islam, and forced into marriage.

According to advocacy sources, less than 2 % of Pakistan’s population is Hindu, down from significantly higher proportions in earlier decades; one estimate calls for urgent action to halt this decline. As of 2023, only 3.8 million of the over 24 crore population of Pakistan were Hindus – 1.63 per cent of the overall population.

The decline has been even sharper in cities that once had large Hindu populations. In Lahore, for example, Hindus and Sikhs made up about 40 per cent of the population in 1941; today, they account for barely one per cent.

The sharp decline in Pakistan’s Hindu population stems from years of legal and social discrimination. Legally, only Muslims can serve as president or prime minister, and the country’s blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty, are often misused to target non-Muslims.

Non-Muslims also lack personal family laws, meaning their marriages are not legally recognised, and disputes over divorce or property cannot be resolved. Each year, thousands of Hindu women are abducted and forcibly converted to Islam.

Hindus and other minorities also face severe social and economic exploitation. Many lower-caste Hindus remain trapped in bonded labour, despite the practice being banned in 1992. The Global Slavery Index estimated in 2020 that over three million Pakistanis live in debt servitude. Landlords often lure poor Hindus into debt traps, forcing entire families to work indefinitely, with women facing sexual abuse.

The persecution extends to religious sites as well. Pakistan has fewer than 300 Hindu temples left, and even fewer are functional. Thousands have been destroyed since Partition, including major sites like the Hinglaj Mata Mandir. In July 2023, Karachi’s 150-year-old Mari Mata temple was demolished after being declared unsafe.

According to Indian government data, 241 incidents of violence against Hindus were reported in Pakistan in 2022, 103 in 2023, and 112 up to October 2024.