Pakistan's senior Muslim clerics denounce forced conversion of Hindus

Islamabad: Pakistan's senior Muslim clerics and representatives from different religions have condemned forceful conversions, saying Islam doesn't allow such acts and Muslims must provide better environment to minorities in their areas, according to a media report. The remarks made during a joint meeting of the Mutahida Ulema Board (Punjab) and Pakistan Ulema Council on Sunday came amid the nationwide outrage over the alleged forced conversions of Hindu girls in Sindh province.

"Islam doesn't allow forceful conversion of non-Muslims," the religious leaders said.

They agreed that the issue of alleged forced conversion and marriages of two teenage Hindu girls in Sindh province and other subsequent matters should be settled in accordance with the law and justice, the News reported.

The meeting - presided over by Chairman Mutahida Ulema Board and Pakistan Ulema Council Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi - underlined that Islam is a religion of peace, harmony, stability and its teachings have categorically defined rights for non-Muslims residing in Muslim countries.

The senior religious leaders also condemned terror activities being carried out on account of Islamphobia and demanded constitution of a judicial commission to probe the killing of Bahawalpur professor to avert such extremist incidents in future, the paper said. A third-year student at Bahawalpur's Government Sadiq Egerton College last month allegedly stabbed a professor to death over what he vaguely described as the academic's "anti-Islam" remarks.