KARACHI, Pakistan—The Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) has warned the government that the community will launch a countrywide agitation if the all the culprits who committed desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, are not arrested by May 31, 2014.
PSC patron in chief Ramesh Singh has demanded a judicial commission to be formed to investigate how, and why, such incidents have suddenly begun taking place across Sindh province..
Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, he said that as a deterrence to other unscrupulous elements who may be planning similar acts of sacrilege in the future, all culprits need to be arrested, tried, and awarded rigid punishment. He also demanded that security be provided to the religious places of minority communities.
He gave details of the incidents in which the bir (volume) of their holy Guru Granth Sahib was burnt. He said that the incidents were reported from Dal Darbar in Pano Aqil, Guru Nanak Darbar Mehar in Dadu district, Samadha Ashram, Sajal Sher Jhulelal Darbar and Khatwari Darbar in Shikarpur district. Only this month, similar incidents were reported from Bhagnari Temple in Karachi’s Lea Market, and Jai Ram Das Darbar in Madheji, Shikarpur, on May 6 and 7, respectively.
He said that Sikhs did not want to stage protest which could create embarrassment for the country internationally, but they have been pushed to the wall and it was the government’s responsibility to recognize the Sikh community’s religious sentiments, and to provide safety and security to the community, and to arrest the culprits.
He said that community representatives had met the Sindh Minister for Religious Minorities Giyan Chand, and Senator Hari Ram, as well as other legislators who have assured them that a meeting of the community leaders with the chief minister would be arranged. However, he added, no such meeting has been arranged so far.
Sardar Karan Singh Rai, Sardar Manjeet Singh, Sardar Saran Singh, Sardar Arjan Singh, Sardar Manmohan Singh, and Sardar Bhola Singh were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the community has also approached the chief justice of Pakistan who has directed the advocate general, and additional Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) (legal), on May 13, 2014 that First Information Reports (FIRs) of all such incidents under Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code be produced in court on the next hearing, and the culprits arrested.
