Hindu migrants facing persecution in Pak eligible for long-term visa

Hindu migrants from Pakistan, seeking permanent settlement with a view to acquire Indian citizenship, are eligible for the grant of Long-Term Visa (LTV), the government announced in Parliament on Thursday.

Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Kirti Vardhan Singh was responding to a question on Hindus continuously migrating from Sindh province due to violence and discrimination against the minority community in Pakistan.

The MoS said, “There have been reports of atrocities against minority communities in Pakistan, including cases of atrocities against members of the Hindu community. Incidents such as intimidation, abduction, persecution, forced conversions and forced marriages, which compel them to migrate, have been reported from time to time.”

“Several members of the Hindu community in Pakistan apply for Indian visas at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, which are processed as per extant rules. Some of them who entered India on valid visas have not gone back to Pakistan on the grounds of religious persecution,” Singh added.