Pakistani Hindu pilgrims say they don't want to return from India

New Delhi: The Indian High Commission in Islamabad and Pakistan's Interior Ministry has denied media reports that 250 Hindus were planning to flee the country. However, some Pakistan Hindus who have come to India as pilgrims say they do not want to return to Pakistan.

"I will ask the Indian government to allow me to stay here," one of the pilgrims said. "I will ask the Indian govt to grant us a permanent visa," another pilgrim added.

"It is very hard for us to live in Karachi, we, especially the girls are constantly harassed," a pilgrim said.

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad has denied media reports that 250 Hindus were planning to flee the country.

Officials in India claim that they are arriving on a temporary visa, to attend various pilgrimages. The Amritsar passport office says that 10 families are already in India, while 20 more are expected.

On Thursday, Pakistan news channels reported that about 250 Hindus were leaving Jacobabad to never return.

Pakistan Minister Paul Bhatti said, "Rise of extremism in Pakistan is a concern, but it's not only the Hindus who face this problem, the other communities too face this."

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