QUETTA: Over two dozen Hindu families have approached the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for visa and political asylum in India after what they called growing cases of kidnapping for ransom and target killing of the members of their community in Balochistan.

This was disclosed by the regional director for the federal Ministry of Human Rights, Saeed Ahmed Khan, at a seminar on “Provincial Conference on Balochistan Crisis” here on Sunday.

Leaders and workers of various political parties and representatives of civil society attended the seminar jointly organised by the Actionaid and Association for Integrated Development Balochistan.

Mr Khan said that Hindus had been living in Balochistan for centuries, but in recent weeks several members of the minority community had been kidnapped or murdered, forcing them to seek asylum in India.

“As many as 27 Hindu families from Balochistan have sent applications to the Indian embassy for asylum in India,” he said.

Mr Khan said it was a matter of great concern and urged the government to take immediate measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan.

According to statistics of the Ministry of Human Rights, violation of human rights has been committed at a large scale in Balochistan and people are being abducted for ransom.

National Party’s vice president Dr Ishaq Baloch said Baloch youths had become frustrated because they had been denied rights and their national identity had not been recognised.

He said that arrest and disappearance of youths had damaged efforts to secure peace in the province.

Hazara Democratic Party chairman Abdul Khaliq Hazara blamed ‘hidden hands’ for the poor law and order situation in the province. He said over 100 groups involved in kidnappings for ransom were operating in Balochistan.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s provincial president Usman Khan Kakar said Pakistan would get stability, peace and prosperity if the centre recognised the identity and languages of all nationalities in the country.