Updated on Friday, October 20, 2006, 00:00 IST

Islamabad, Oct 20: Amidst complaints of harassment and victimisation of Hindus residing in an area where a Shiv temple is located in Karachi, the Pakistan Human Rights Commission has asked the government to ensure that minorities are protected in the country.

"A continuous stream of complaints was being received against the harassment and victimisation of Hindus residing in Pawmal Das compound, opposite Kakri ground, Lyari in Karachi, where a Shiv Mandir was located," said a statement of the commission, headed by rights activist Asma Jahangir.

"Reports were also received about butchers turning the compound in which a temple is situated into a slaughtering area," the statement said.

The compound houses a historic Shiv Mandir within its premises, but it has been taken over by a self-styled pir (religious leader) Syed Hussain Mian Bukhari, whose followers claim that the temple was a mosque earlier, according to the 'Daily Times'.

As a result of this Hindus have been forced to offer their prayers in a makeshift room on another side of the compound, it said.

In another statement, Jahangir expressed deep concern over how the authorities were dealing with prisoners on the death row.

The commission had monitored a few death row cases and come to the "horrifying conclusion that in a number of cases, due process was not followed or that the evidence was not compelling enough to prescribe capital punishment."

Bureau Report