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'Any Hindu Left in Pakistan?' Imran Khan's Diwali Wishes Set Off Twitterstorm

© AP Photo / B.K. BangashPakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks to The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, March 16, 2020
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks to The Associated Press, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, March 16, 2020 - Sputnik International
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Hindus across the world celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, on 14 November. Though there are several legends surrounding the festival, the most popular one, particularly in northern India, is the celebration of the return of Lord Ram after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, present-day Sri Lanka.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's greetings to Hindu citizens of his country on Diwali, the festival of lights, has evoked delirious comments from social media users in India.

​Many netizens wondered if there were any Hindus left in Pakistan:

Some of Khan's compatriots commented on the matter as well, saying that "It's time to fight against India", rather than wishing them a happy Diwali.

Others claimed that India doesn't allow Muslims to celebrate Eid in Kashmir, "but we still wish Diwali to all [the] Hindu community".

​According to the 1951 census, Pakistan (both West and East Pakistan or now Bangladesh) had a population of 75 million, of which 12.9 percent were Hindus. The official estimated population of Pakistan in 2019 was 216 million, with the nation's Pakistan Hindu Council putting the Hindu population at 8 million.

The 2017 census revealed that 96.28 percent of the population in Pakistan was estimated to be Muslims, while the rest were Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis, Sikhs, Baha'is, and others

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