Rakbir Singh was returning home from his shop when armed men nabbed him
. PHOTO: FILE
A Sikh businessman was kidnapped from Qaidabad on Monday by unidentified armed men.
Rakbir Singh, a trader and shopkeeper in Karkhano Market, was nabbed outside his house by armed men who overpowered him and shoved him in their car. The kidnapping took place in the jurisdiction of the Banamarhi police station.
Sikhs believe Rakbir has been kidnapped for ransom.
“He goes to the temple to offer his prayers, and then to his shop as per his daily routine,” said Sahib Singh, a former Sikh council member. “He was kidnapped while returning home.”
Sikhs have decided to stage a protest in front of the Chief Minister House today (Wednesday) to protest the kidnapping. The Banamarhi police have registered an FIR and started an investigation.
Commenting on another incident, he said that robbers in Shah Qabool broke into the house of another Sikh on January 18, held the family hostage and stole Rs1 million along with about 140 grammes of gold.
“In the past few months, Sikhs have been a frequent target for mobile phone snatchers as well and all these things are not coincidental,” he argued.
Peshawar is home to about 500 Sikh families who migrated from Khyber Agency and Orakzai Agency, Singh said. There were two incidents where Sikhs were brutally killed, he said, adding that Peshawar, too, is becoming less safe.
Earlier this month, the mutilated body of a Sikh businessman was found in a gunny bag in Choura village of Jamrud tehsil, Khyber Agency. Mahinder Singh had been missing for two months before he was found dead.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (18)
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@Super Star: you are spot on my Indian friend. This is not the first time. During the grand operation against Khalistan Movement, a lot of Sikhs left Pakistan and took assylum in India. Thousands of Kashmiris had to pass through the same fate also.
Sad, really sad. Why don't they migrate to India or some western country? At least they wouldn't have to suffer the nightmare every day of their life.
@Liberal: I agree. But tell me are Sikhs as safe in Pakistan as they are in India. I am sure you know the situation of Sikhs in India .
there is this argument that minorities have faced issues in india as well...well they have indeed, but does that stand as a vindication of how minorities are treated in pakistan? having said that, if comparing, one needs to compare pragmatically...minorities in india are far better off than ones in pakistan...the rights of minorities in pakistan are restricted by the constitution itself while that is not the case with india...india is not a hindu republic of india, as against islamic republic of pakistan...if minorities of both sides were asked if they wud want to leave their country and walk across the border, there wudnt be many in india who wud want to, while a majority of the ones in pakistan wud say they want to switch over...
@In the name of love: minority are even not safe in India
According to India's home minister the RSS must be involved in this!!
@Liberal Exactly. It is the Newspaper which is bringing religion here... I am critisizing it.
For Allah Sake.....Don't malign Pakistan like this...At first I thought I was reading an Indian news website. He is a Pakistani first! Whatever happened to him is very wrong and it must not happen with anyone living in Pakistan but saying that "A Sikh trader is kidnapped" is only going to spread a wave of discrimination nothing else. No. of people are kidnapped in Pakistan everyday why dont you report all of them then. Also, the areas you are talking about arent safe for anyone whether its a hindu, a muslim or a sikh!
My sincere request to ET! Please chose the words carefully and be responsible.
@In the name of love: dear friend, donot know. How can we think that. In India minorities are also not safe. After 47, many examples 84 anti-sikh, 2002 anti-muslims etc
@ss Rest assured many wealthy muslims and their children are kidnapped regularly. Lawlessness in Pakistan is rampant and quite impartial in choosing its victims.
Why do u have to Title it as a 'Sikh Trader'? Cant you just see him as another Pakistani Citizen?
@ ss its sad that this sikh businessman got kidnapped. BUT trust me its not only him, dozens of wealthy muslims and even children of senior officials have also been kidnapped for ransom in Peshawar...
Terrible! What kind of image we are projecting of Pakistan?
his fault was perhaps in his ancestor's decision of staying back in pakistan after 47 and believing that pakistan wud protect its minorities...for the sake of humanity, if not anything else, i hope pakistanis can give up on their extremist views...islam is not under danger from anyone, and it can never be...stop killing others in the name of it...
So where are those fundamentalists who think that Pakistan is peaceful Islamic country. All minorities in Pakistan are being persecuted be it Qadyanis, Hindus, Christians, Shia Muslims, and now Sikh people. Looks like that only Sunni Muslims have the right to live peacefully in Pakistan.
what's going on, where is CJ now? we are worse than animals, why don't they kidnap wealthy muslims? why only non-muslims? is it because they are easy targets and nothing would happen to the culprits even if they kill them?