Minority rights: NADRA ordered to register Sikh marriages

The authority will verify marriage certificates from Pakistan Sikh Council, Gurdwara.

ISLAMABAD:

The government has directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to register marriages of the Sikh community.

To start the registration process, chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Council Sardar Ramesh Singh met NADRA Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik.

“NADRA will consider ‘Annand Karraj’ as the marriage certificate issued by Gurdwaras for verifying Sikh marriages,” a senior official told The Express Tribune. The authority will verify certificates from the respective Gurdwara as well as the Sikh council, confirmed a statement issued by the NADRA office.

“NADRA is strictly following the government’s policy that minorities should not be discriminated against on the basis of religion or sect,” Malik said.

Singh acknowledged the efforts of NADRA to register minorities in the national database.

The deputy chairman informed the delegation that NADRA has registered a total 5,852 Sikhs so far, including 3,105 men and 2,747 women.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.