MARDAN:
A member of the Sikh community was stabbed to death inside his shop in Shaheedan Bazaar Wednesday afternoon. Gagan Singh, son of Aamarjeet Singh, told the police that he was at the family-owned cosmetics shop until 2 pm on Wednesday, when his father came to work and sent him home.
When Gagan returned at 5pm, he found the shop’s shutters pulled halfway down. His father was missing. Gagan said he went to the shop’s adjacent warehouse, where he found his father’s body.
Gagan said his family doesn’t have any known enemies and have been residents of Dagai, Mardan, for many years. The Hoti police have lodged an FIR and started investigation into the murder.
Last month, two men opened fire on three members of the Sikh community in Shabab Markat, in the Hashtnagri area of Peshawar. One man, Jagmot Singh, was killed while two others, Manmit Singh and Param Singh, were injured. The men were shot at as they opened Manmit’s cosmetics shops in the market in the morning.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2014.
COMMENTS (19)
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This is highly condemnable. What is wrong is wrong for all humanity. No one has the right to take someone's life. The culprit should be punished with full aggression and get what he deserves. Because the victim belonged to a different religion does not make him any less human or make me respect him less as a person. In Islam it is taught to respect everyone and their religions. It's a message of peace, sure, today's world and media portrays something else which is far from the truth. I'm so deeply sorry for their loss and i pray that they get justice for this and the culprit to suffer the same fate.
@ati:
This is not Islam! Evertime a Muslim kills a defenseless minority member, you guys like to sweep the garbage under the carpet by saying "This is not Islam!" This ritualistic lip-service will not help; if you true Muslims, as some procalaim in this site, you will form a protection Cordon around the minorities in Pakistan. Why don't you raise your voices, as moderates, against this fascism that exists in your Country? It's time for sensible Muslim men and women to rise and tell the extremists (who are essentially Cowards) that nobody supports them and that their religion-inspired atrocities are condemned. Only Problem is that no "true" Muslim can be found who has to Courage to stand up and defend unarmed and totally helpless minorities. The sad part is that women and children are, particularly, targeted in the minorities.
@Moiz Omar: I understand that religion is your private matter but when you say ex-muslim.. you became atheist?
@Prognosticator: I am a non-Muslim, actually ex-Muslim and I live in Pakistan. Everybody so far has let me live in peace.
R.I.P.
@Feroz: I suggest you read what the Indian Army Chief has said about non conventional operations in Pakistan
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/army-spook-unit-carried-out-covert-ops-in-pakistan/article1-1125008.aspx
Also what the Indian spies released by Paksitan stated to the press when they reached India.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/400493/homecoming-surjeet-singh-taken-to-wagah-border/
Also read about the deputy TTP commander who was picked up by US Forces in Afghanistan whilst he was being managed by Afghan Intelligence (thank you US Army for that).
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/10/usgrabspakistani_t.php Finally read about statements from the head of the BLA who has practically confirmed his links to India.
I accept there are many extremist organisations in pakistan now; this was never the case pre the Afghan - Soviet war and almost all minority groups were treated as equal citizens / respectfully.
@Zog: Statements that cannot be substantiated by data and facts is called lies. In India the population of all minorities except Jews has increased manifold since 1947, the Jews preferring to emigrate to Israel. No one in Pakistan is even interested in knowing what happened to their religious minorities. All the violence in Pakistan is blamed on outsiders, though the only outsiders in Pakistan are the terrorists from other countries hosted there. God alone knows who you want to fool, have you ever considered that the world is not made up of only fools, many have brains they like to use.
Meanwhile in Delhi: "The passport office was crowded as usual and the 14-year-old was waiting patiently, his file in hand, when a young man looked at it and asked if he was a Muslim. The schoolboy said 'yes', the youth looked at him and said flatly, "Ek din sab Mussalman khatam jo jayenge."
People listened on, as of course they would in any public space. There was interest but no outrage to the bland assertion that the entire community would be finished. Another man joined in only declare, “Bahut bada jang hone wala hai (A big war is in the offing)”, before going on to ask the child if he would go with India or Pakistan. The quick-witted teen said he would watch from the sidelines.
And the scene — which could well be from a film seeking to portray the gritty realities of modern-day India but was being played out on a weekday morning in the Indian capital — did not end there. The boy was then asked what his parents would do, to which he responded, “Go ask them.” " http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-everyday-vignettes-of-a-communal-capital-2015991
All Sikhs and Hindus please come to India, this is where you belong!
For the Indians gloating here, i would just like to remind them of the mass pogroms against the sikhs following operation blue star, when thousands were massacred, sikh women raped and burned alive.
Sikhs have lived in Pakistan with no issues since partition. They are a valued members of our nation and I am so proud of them.
These targetted and sectarian attacks are often the work of outsiders to create division in Pakistan
This is disgraceful. I strongly condemn this and sympathise with the victim's family. The law and order situation can only be addressed when Indian backed terror in Pakistan is dealt with effectively, our borders are secured, and the whole country is de weaponised.
when Muslim are in minority they want more equal right . But when they are in majority they either cleanse are convert entire minority. This is the paradox of Muslim society.
@Saad Talat Yes, when some muslims are beaten over eve teasing issue then news is Muslims are beaten in India.
This is not Islamic , we as Muslims, have to respect all other religion. I am with you. you are more patriotic than me and other muslims. We are here because we are in majority and you are here because you choose this country. I salute all minorities who live in pakistan.
Our Sikh brothers are welcome to migrate to India. A lot of families have taken this route and the minorities who are harassed should consider this option. Secularism is a bad word in Pakistan and you will NEVER be allowed to live in peace until you have converted to Islam.
Condemnable..
I condemn this attack but what if a victim was Muslim.. would the heading of the news would be " MUSLIM ATTACKED" ??
if you are a non-Muslim and you turn Muslim, no matter whatever you do in your life, straight to heaven." Ahmed Shehzad to Dilshan
And still you wonder why this happens....