Pakistan

Religious persecution: Sikhs lash out against murder, kidnappings

Demand immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of attackers.

Our Correspondent March 15, 2014

The rally began from Gurdwara Bhai Singh inside Dabgari Gardens and moved towards Mohallah Jogan Shah as the protesters chanted slogans. PHOTO: EXPRESS

PESHAWAR: Sikh residents of the city protested on Friday against the killing of a Sikh hakim in Charsadda a day before and an earlier abduction of two others in DI Khan.

“These incidents are part of the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” said Sardar Charanjeet Singh, leading the protest. He strongly condemned the attack on minorities and demanded the provincial government to take steps for their protection.

The rally began from Gurdwara Bhai Singh inside Dabgari Gardens and moved towards Mohallah Jogan Shah as the protesters chanted slogans. The protest continued until the bodies of the deceased were shifted to Attock for cremation.

“There is no doubt that every citizen of the province is a victim of the precarious situation in K-P,” said Charanjeet, adding, “but non-Muslims are more insecure and marginalised as compared to others.”

He emphasised the Sikh are a peaceful people and have no rivalries with anyone. Charanjeet added the deceased, Pramjeet Singh, had been running his own herbal medication clinic in the district for 17 years.

A protester, Hardyal Singh, said another Sikh, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, had been killed in Tangi, Charsadda, in January while coming home from work. The local police had not been successful in arresting the killers so far, he added.

“We are Pakistani citizens and are ready to render any sacrifices for this country,” said Hardyal.

The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those behind the attack and asked the provincial government to punish them.

A hakim belonging to the Sikh community, Pramjeet and his employee were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Shabqadar, Charsadda on Thursday. Two others, Anand Singh and Sawrender Singh, were abducted from DI Khan a month ago.

COMMENTS (10)

Singh | 10 years ago | Reply

These terrorists have no ideology or cause for which they murder for. They're like the drug cartels of central / south america, using violence as a means to maintain their power / control over the region. The government should mandate small arms, ammunition and training for minorities in every region of Pakistan, and let people defend themselves from this lawlessness!

Arv Singh | 10 years ago | Reply When will the Pakistani Punjabis realize that Sikhs are not alien but their own flesh and blood. All Pakistanis have the same family names as Sikhs making us distant cousins. We share a common heritage, culture, language, folk music, food, and way of life. So will this brotherly enmity ever stop? and why not?

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Raj - USA | 10 years ago | Reply Hindus, Sikhs and Christians; Shias, Ahmedis and Islamis; Baluch, Hazaras and Muhajirs; Soldiers, Civilians and Sunnis ...... everyone is targeted and killed ruthlessly. Mandirs, Mosques, Gurdwaras, Dargahs, Shrines and all places of worship are also targeted. Schools, Polio Vaccination Camps and even Graveyards are not sparred. High time for UN to intervene or at least declare all targeted groups as highly victimized groups, and also arrange for them to be evacuated from Pakistan and settled in other countries. Political and religious parties of Pakistan will continue to claim that they themselves are victims and continue to provide support and encouragement to all terrorists, sectarian groups and religious extremists.

hoshiar singh gill | 10 years ago | Reply

Ian@ respect your sentiments i hope and prey this situation would reverse so that everyone

in Pakistan can live in safety and with equal honour pride and respect like' brothers and

sisters'!

Munaff | 10 years ago | Reply The local police had not been successful in arresting the killers so far, he added - It is also not their duty to arrest the real killers. It is the responsibility of the victims to take guns and start killing all those who are troubling them. I have see this rule in jungle constitution.

Raj - USA | 10 years ago | Reply One after another, they are going after everyone. There is absolutely no hope for anyone.

Ian | 10 years ago | Reply

@freedom at cost - you're talking absolute rubbish. People are being killed left, right and center regardless one's background.

We are all brothers and sisters and need support each other through all times, good or bad.

My heart goes out to Hakim Sahab's family and loved ones.

freedom at cost | 10 years ago | Reply

u r only crime is that u r living in land of pure.....all are pure in pakistan except minorities.No one stand along with minirities in Pakistan...they only blame others for cause...

goggi (Lahore) | 10 years ago | Reply

Pakistan is plagued by the epidemic of sadistic killing compulsion, whether innocent animals or innocent humans, the colour of blood and suffering is same.

My sincere condolences to the family of Hakim Sahib and solidarity with all the beloved and honourable Sikhs of Pakistan.

advocate khan | 10 years ago | Reply

As a citizen of Peshawar my head hangs in shame as things have deteriorated so much that it had to come to this. All the muslims stand with our Sikh brothers and sisters in this testing time. Let us look back at all the years we have lived in harmony and let that give us strength to continue to live in peace and protect each other from the evil forces bent to create rifts, whether they be external or internal.

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