international
Oi-Deepika S
In the latest incident of targeted attacks against minority communities in Pakistan, a Sikh shopkeeper was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Peshawar’s Rashidgarhi market in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.
The man, identified as Manmohan Singh (32), was walking from Rashid Garhi in the suburbs of Peshawar towards the inner city area of Peshawar when some armed men attacked him near Guldara Chowk Kakshal, which Comes under the jurisdiction of Yakka. Broken police station.
Image credits: @UnitedSikhs
Police said Singh was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
This is the second incident of armed attack on a Sikh person in Yakka Toot area in the last 48 hours. A Sikh man was injured after being shot in the legs on Friday.
About 15,000 Sikhs live in Peshawar, mostly in the Jogan Shah neighborhood of the provincial capital Peshawar.
Most members of the Sikh community in Peshawar are involved in business, while some also own a pharmacy.
In September last year, a renowned Sikh ‘hakim’ (Unani medical practitioner) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside his clinic in Peshawar.
The United Sikhs said they would meet the Pakistan consulate, along with other groups, to demand the State Department’s intervention to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan.
“We are shocked by these targeted attacks on Sikh men in Pakistan. These attacks are not only appalling, but they are also a violation of human rights. We call on the Pakistani government to do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice. For justice,” the group said.
“This pattern is very scary and seems to be part of a nefarious conspiracy. Sikhs have been living peacefully as a minority in Pakistan since 1947. Suddenly, we have these deadly attacks on hard-working Sikhs? Who is behind them? What is the message? The Government of Pakistan needs to investigate this on an emergency basis and immediately stop this attempt at ethnic cleansing.”
It added, “We also call upon the international community to stand with the Sikh community in Pakistan. These attacks are not only an attack on the Sikh community, but they are also an attack on the values of tolerance and respect for all people.”
The group said, “We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Manmohan Singh. We pray for the safety of his soul and that of all Sikhs in Pakistan.”
It added, “Our team in Pakistan will continue to work with affected families to provide relief. To read more about our work with families who have lost loved ones in targeted violence over the past few years in Pakistan Here’s a link.”
Story First Published: Sunday, June 25, 2023 , 9:11 am [IST]