The news broke like wildfire and Sikhs from different cities of northern Sindh started gathering in the town to protest against the incident. They rushed to the local police station to lodge an FIR, but police refused.
Source/Credit: Daily Times
By Amar Guriro | July 13, 2013
KARACHI: Hindus of northern Sindh tore the most sacred book of Sikh religion, Guru Granth Sahib in Pano Aqil town in Sukkur district, local Sikhs told Daily Times on Friday.
The incident took place on June 18, 2013 and despite passage of more than two weeks, police have not registered the case, due to the influence of a Hindu parliamentarian of ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). The local Hindus are the MPA's relatives, Sikhs alleged.
According to details, on the night of June 18, some people entered a local Hindu temple of Nanak (Guru Nanak) Panthi (believers) Hindus in Pako Aqil town and tore the holy book into pieces.
The news broke like wildfire and Sikhs from different cities of northern Sindh started gathering in the town to protest against the incident. They rushed to the local police station to lodge an FIR, but police refused.
"We attempted to contact every one in the government, but no one heard us," said Sardar Ramesh Singh, chairman Pakistan Sikh Council. He said that Sikhs are very angry and they want police to register their case. "We are not blaming any one, it is the duty of police to find out who did this, we simply request to lodge the FIR," said Singh.
On Friday morning, local police arrested a local businessman, Mahesh Kumar of Pano Aqil as an alleged culprit, but even then no case was registered till the filing of this report.
Local Sikhs said that police is trying to resolve the matter on community level, instead of lodging the complaint. "We will not accept resolution of this matter on a community level, as it is not our personal issue, but a religious one. There are certain laws in Pakistani constitution for this act, as it is blasphemy and we want to register our case under the blasphemy act," said Singh.
On Contact, SHO Pano Aqil Barkat Korai confirmed the news that he has arrested local Hindu named Mahesh Kumar, but he denied that he is attempting to resolve the matter at community level.
"No one has approached us for the case, otherwise we will register the case," said Korai. When asked why an arrest was made without any FIR and state case, as it happens in most blasphemy cases, he said there is pressure from higher authorities. "I cannot explain the details, but there is pressure from higher authorities," said Korai.
However, when SSP Sukkur Irfan Baloch was contacted for his statement, he refused to talk on the matter. "I am not allowed to issue any statement," he said. DIG Sukkur Abdul Khaliq Shaikh gave the same response. Mukhi Ramchand, the chieftain of local Hindus and also temple administration, confirmed that some miscreants tore the holy book of Guru Granth Sahib inside the temple.
He also admitted that he and other Hindus pressurised police not to lodge the case on the Sikh's request and instead register one by Hindus. "We are Nanak (Guru Nanak) Panthi Hindu and Granth Sahib is as holy for us as for Sikhs, therefore we wanted to lodge the FIR from our side. These people are Hindu and not 'real' Sikhs," Mukhi told Daily Times over the phone.
When asked who could possibly be behind the case, he admitted that no one but Hindus disrespected the sacred book. "But we still don't know who exactly did this and what were his motives," he said.
Ganpat Singh, a local Sikh from Sukkur city told this scribe over telephone that PPP MPA and provincial president PPP Minority Wing Lal Chand Ukrani is supporting the culprits by forcing police not to take our case against Hindus.
MPA Ukrani when contacted bluntly rejected the allegations and said he is not involved. "I am not even aware of such happenings that a holy book was torn into pieces," he said, asking, "Why I will support Hindus?"
On contact, PPP Sindh Secretary General Taj Haider condemned the incident and said he will investigate the case to find the truth. When asked about his party's MPA Ukrani's involvement, he said, "I do not even agree with the way in which minority MPAs are selected. They are being selected instead of getting elected. So they work for the happiness of party leadership and not for the people. I receive several complaints against these MPAs everyday," said Haider.
According to official data, there are 5.5 million Hindus in Pakistan, whereas Hindu representatives claim they are 8 million. Hindus are the biggest religious minority, a majority of which lives in Sindh. They are powerful compared to other religious minorities with many representatives in the national and provincial assemblies as well as Senate.
On the other hand, Sikhs are a tiny minority community within religious minorities of Pakistan, and a majority of them live in Punjab. According to official data, there are only 6,000 Sikhs in Pakistan; however, Sikh representatives claim that the number is around 30,000 to 35,000. Very few Sikhs live in Sindh, and since the creation of Pakistan not a single Sikh has been elected in the Sindh assembly. Therefore, the Sikh community is neglected in every field, including public sector jobs and in terms of security.
"We demand political parties to nominate a Sikh for the assembly seat," said Ramesh Singh. "I am shocked to hear this news and condemn this act and demand the authorities to arrest the culprits," said Pakistan Hindu Seva (PHS) President Sanjesh S Dhanja.
Read original post here: Pakistan's Another case of blasphemy? : Extremist Hindus tore Guru Granth Sahib in Pano Aqil
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