Three major red flag incidents in recent time to Pakistan's Sikh Community

 

 

The Sikh community in Pakistan had been facing a series of incidents, in recent times, that were aimed to attack the Sikh faith and demographics of the community in the Islamic state. Here's a chronological list of three major red flag incidents that have emerged as a huge concern among Sikh community across globe for their brothers and mainly 'sisters' in Pakistan;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owing to the Pakistan government's continuous negligence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's ancestral "haveli" in Gujranwala city of Pakistan, the roof of the haveli collapsed on Aug 12. A portion of the haveli of "Sher-e-Punjab" Maharaja Ranjit Singh, collapsed in spite of the authorities, a few days ago declaring it safe to be converted into a historical tourism site.

 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, was born in this house on 13 Nov 1780. The haveli holds great significance for Sikhs around the world. The building has been declared a protected heritage building by the Pakistan Archaeology Department, but the officials rarely visit. The Pakistan govt has over the time allocated funds for the restoration of the haveli, but it was not utilized.

 

 

 

 

There had been reports claiming that the govt converted an area of the haveli into a dump yard and the lower floor of which was being used as a police station for long after the partition. Later, the Pakistani government removed the garbage dump but started using the place as a parking area.

 

Bibi Deena Kaur, a young Sikh girl, was kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam and was made to do Nikah against her will. The incident occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Deena Kaur, daughter of Gurucharan Singh, was reported to be abducted at gunpoint, raped, and married to her abductor with the help of local administration and police. The Police did not register FIR on the complaint of the victim's family which led to a massive demonstration outside the police station. The incident shocked the Sikh community worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

In India a delegation of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee ( DSGMC ) on Aug 29 met the High Commissioner of Pakistan Aizaz Khan in connection with the kidnapping Bibi Deena Kaur in Pakistan. The memorandum highlighted, "when such incidents happen, it is generally noticed that local administration and police play a negative role and discriminate against Sikhs and try to hush up the matter."

 

Slamming the Pakistani govt, it read, "On the one hand, the Govt of Pakistan boasts that Pakistan is a democratic country and treats all its citizens equally but on the other hand, atrocities are committed against minorities and gross violation of human rights is a matter of grave concern."

 

 

In a recent video that went viral, a group of men wearing shoes were seen walking inside the Gurudwara Panja Sahib in the Hasan Abdal area of Attock District of Punjab province in Pakistan. According to media reports, the film crew were shooting a film 'Lahore-Lahore A' inside the Gurudwara. The crew entered the gurdwara wearing shoes that offended the devotees who scuffled with the crew and shot a video of the incident. The video went viral on social media creating outrage among the Sikh community.

 

 

 

 

 

Gurudwara Panja Sahib is one of the most holy places of Sikhism because it marks the spot where Guru Nanak Dev ji visited and instilled an important lesson for his fellow Sikhs. Still visible is the sacred rock with the hand print of Guru Nanak. The place of immense significance to Sikhs globally.

 

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