A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 Owing to the fact that no Hindu graveyard was available in the vicinity, her parents buried Ms. Samira Ood in a Muslim graveyard. 276. In early January 2010, however, local Muslim clerics incited people of the area to dig out the dead body in order “to purge the sanctity of a Muslim graveyard”. Subsequently, a tense atmosphere has been prevailing in Khudaabad Hala and members of the Hindu minority there are threatened. Concern is expressed about the risk that violence may erupt against the Hindu minority living in Khudaabad Hala, District Matiari. 277. The Special Rapporteur referred to Human Rights Council resolution 6/37, in which the Council urges States “to take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities”. The Special Rapporteur urged the Government to take all necessary measures to guarantee that the rights and freedoms of the Hindu minority living in Khudaabad Hala, District Matiari, Sindh are respected and, in the event that the investigations support or suggest the above allegations to be correct, the accountability of any person guilty of the alleged violations should be ensured. (b) Response from the Government dated 29 March 2010 278. In its letter dated 29 March 2010, the Government of Pakistan responded to the communication of 22 January 2010. The Government indicated that the matter had been referred to the concerned authorities for the necessary investigation and response. 279. The Government stated that that it had been informed by the concerned authorities that a Hindu girl named Ms. Samira Ood was buried in Khudabad graveyard on 30 April 2009 (reserved for Muslims). The Government indicated that subsequently there had been strong feelings in the local communities that the burial had insulted the sanctity of the Muslims graveyard. It indicated that there is no tense atmosphere in the area against the deceased’s family, who are living peacefully. 280. The Government indicated that the authorities had conveyed that an application was received from the villagers on the incident but was not subsequently pursued by the complainants. (c) Observations by the Special Rapporteur 281. The Special Rapporteur is grateful that the Government of Pakistan replied by letter of 29 March 2010. He wishes to take this opportunity to refer to his framework for communications, more specifically to the international human rights norms and to the mandate practice concerning freedom to worship (see para. 1 above, category A. 3. (a)) and the situation of minorities (category C. 5.). 2. (a) Urgent appeal sent on 19 April 2010 jointly with the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Allegations transmitted to the Government 282. The Special Procedures mandate holders brought to the attention of the Government information regarding Mr. Khalid Mehmood Naqash and Mr. Muhammad Afzal, who are currently detained in district jail of Jhelum, and concerning Mr. Zafar Iqbal from Mohallah Suleman Paris. 55

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