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Discrimination |
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Violence against Muhajirs |
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Pakistan |
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The "Bihari" minority in Bangladesh were subject to persecution during and after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War (a Part of the Indo-Pakistani conflicts and the Cold War)[1] (called the Civil War in Pakistan),[2] experiencing widespread discrimination.[3]
They largely maintained a pro-Pakistani stance, supported the Pakistan Armed Forces and opposed the independence of Bangladesh and the Bengali language movement of the Bengali Muslims. Biharis faced reprisals from Mukti Bahini and militias[4][1] resulting in an estimated death toll ranging from 1,000[5] to 150,000.[6][7]
Within the context of the conflict in Bangladesh, the term "Bihari" implies the migrants predominantly from the Indian state of Bihar and West Bengal, who headed for then East Pakistan, after the partition of India in 1947. Later all Urdu speaking people, even the Punjabis, Pathans, Sindhi and Baloch from West Pakistan, who were posted to East Pakistan or settled in the Eastern Wing, were labeled as Biharis by Bengalis.[8][9]
Bihari representatives claim 500,000 Biharis were killed, while the Pakistani government's "white paper" and the US Consul estimated 64,000 - 66,000 deaths.[10][11]
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruled Biharis eligible for Bangladesh citizenship in 1972, and about 500,000 chose repatriation to Pakistan.[1][12] Some repatriation was implemented by the Red Cross over a number of years,[13] but in 1978 the Pakistani government stripped Pakistanis remaining in Bangladesh of Pakistani citizenship.[12] Researchers (such as Sumit Sen)[14] maintain that the Pakistani government's denationalization of the Biharis and reluctance to rehabilitate them in Pakistan are sufficient evidence of persecution to warrant refugee status. The Biharis have also faced institutionalized discrimination linked to their citizenship status,[15] and many live in squalor in refugee camps.[16]
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