Peshawar, Pakistan / Jalandhar, Punjab (August 08, 2014):The killing of another Sikh Peshawar sparked protests by the Sikh community in Pakistan. Following the attack, protesters took to the streets and burnt tyres blocking roads including the grand Trunk (GT) road in Peshawar.
Another Sikh murdered in Pakistan on August 06.
The demonstrators chanted slogans against Pakistan government’s failure to protect members of minority communities and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.
The protesters tried to approach the Chief Minister’s House but were stopped by security. Later the demonstrators headed towards the Governor’s House.
Police officials said unidentified armed men opened fire at members of the Sikh community when they were at Shabab market in the Hashtnagri area.
Screenshot of protests by Sikhs in Pakistan after killing of a Sikh on August 06, 2014
DawnNews reported that Jasmot Singh, Bahram Singh and Manmit Singh were attacked when they were at their respective shops in the market. The victims were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital immediately after the attack, where one died.
Negotiations between members of the Sikh community and the administration was also under-way.
A large number of protestors shifted the body of the deceased Sikh man to GT Road and demanded that the government give them security. One member said that this is not the first time the community has been attacked and that the government should tell them an alternative if it cannot give them security.
After a number of kidnappings from among the Sikh community in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and other tribal areas, some members have decided to wind up their shops in KP and relocate to Rawalpindi.
In a report published by Pakistani media earlier this week, one Sikh man Saroop Singh said, “Hasanabdal is a much safer place for the Sikhs to live, as it is one of our holiest sites. Our families feel much secure there, living among other Sikhs in Gurdwara Punja Sahib”.
“Peshawar is not safe,” he added.