Sikh community seeks representation in assemblies

Minority affairs minister assures support for construction of Gurdwara in posh locality of Karachi

KARACHI: The Sikh community of Sindh sought representation in the assemblies on Saturday evening and demanded a piece of land for construction of a large Gurdwara in one of the posh areas of the metropolis like Defence Housing Authority, Clifton or Saddar cantonment from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

These demands were presented before the provincial minister for minority affairs, Hari Ram Kishori Lal, who was the chief guest at a 60kV generator installation ceremony in Guru Nanak Darbar, on the premises of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. Sindh minority affairs department funded the purchase of the generator.



While talking to the media, Lal said that the properties belonging to minority communities had been occupied and large buildings had been erected on the places of worship of Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and other non-Muslims. He said that these properties had been placed under the control of Evacuee Trust Property Board which failed to manage them properly, resulting in their dilapidated condition.

He added that renovation work started by the Sindh government in Sadh Belo Temple in Sukkur could not be completed despite the passage of 10 years due to hurdles created by the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

He said that the Evacuee Trust is a provincial subject now, but added that the federal government was still reluctant to hand over its control to the provinces despite repeated reminders by the Sindh government at different forums.



He said that they had decided to set up the Sindh Evacuee Trust Board and its draft has been recently approved by the Sindh cabinet and would be presented in the provincial assembly for final nod very soon. After its approval, the Sindh government will take over all the evacuee properties located in Sindh. He added that Sindh was the only province in Pakistan where a minority affairs department existed and its credit went to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's farsighted vision who in 1993 felt the need for a separate body to focus on the welfare and protection of minorities.

He said that PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was carrying forward the legacy of his mother and taking a keen interest in issues of minorities. He said that on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, a competent team has been formed at the minority affairs department with Imtiaz Ali Shah as secretary and Director Mushtaq Soomro to transform the department.

Lal said that it was unfair to call Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and others as minorities as these communities have been residing in this part of the world for centuries. He announced that an ambulance and bus for Guru Nanak Darbar will be provided in the next financial year. He also assured the Sikh community of every possible support for the construction of Gurdwara in one of the posh localities of Karachi.

Earlier, the patron-in-chief, Sardar Ramesh Singh, had thanked the provincial minister for providing the generator and added that no other party in the country matched the efforts of PPP with regards to the minorities.

President of the managing committee of the darbar, Suresh Peswani, Vice President Jawahir Lal, General Secretary Kailash Kumar, Surjeet Kumar and Nanak Ram attended the ceremony.