Desecration of holy book: Pak Sikhs threaten stir

Islamabad, Pak:  A Sikh organisation in Pakistan has threatened to launch countrywide protests if those who allegedly desecrated the Sikh holy book (Guru Granth Sahib) are not arrested by Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Monday, Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) patron Ramesh Singh demanded that a judicial commission be constituted to investigate how and why such incidents had all of a sudden started happening across Sindh province, the Dawn reported.

He said all culprits should be arrested, tried and awarded ster n punishment so that it could act as a deterrent to others. He also demanded security for religious places of minorities.

Recounting instances in which copies ( ‘ bi r s ’ ) of t he Guru Granth Sahib were burnt, Ramesh Singh alleged that various incidents had been reported from across the province, including in Sukkur, Dadu and Shikarpur districts.

Earlier this month, similar incidents were reported in Karachi and Shikar pur. He said Sikhs had been living in peace with other communities in Sindh for centuries but such incidents had never happened.

He added that Sikhs were as patriotic as other communities in Pakistan and did not want to embarrass the country internationally, but they had been pushed to the wall and it was the government’s responsibility to recognise the Sikhs’ religious sentiments.

Pakistan is home to about 20,000 Sikhs. They have approached the Pakistan chief justice over the issue; and last week, dozens of them stormed Pakistan’s parliament.

Source: HT

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