LAHORE, Pakistan—The Federal Government of Pakistan on September 23 imposed the “Traffic Safety Act” which mandates the wearing of helmet while driving two wheelers. Although the act has been imposed to ensure safety of the public but no special provision has been kept in Act to exempt Sikhs as they wear turbans.
Sources have informed that the Sikhs residing in Pakistan are facing problems in driving two wheeler as they are being fined with Rupees 1000/- continuously for not wearing helmet.
Sikh24 has learnt that the Pakistani Sikhs have taken out a protest march to oppose the imposition of the Act on Sikhs also. The protesters said that if the Pakistani government doesn’t exempt Sikhs from this act, then a lawsuit will be filed through apex Pakistani Sikh body Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee.
PSGPC’s general secretary S. Gopal Singh Chawla has said that the Pakistan government needs to be apprised that wearing a helmet or any type of cap is strictly prohibited in Sikhism. He added that the Pakistani Sikhs are committed to follow the directions of the Court but they can’t do it at the cost of violating the Sikh tenets.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the SSP of Peshawar has exempted Sikhs from wearing helmet. The SSP of traffic in Peshawar Kashif Zulfiqar said that police would cooperate with minority communities.
