Pakistan Sikhs face conversion |
A representative of a Sikh body in Pakistan`s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province has complained that members of the minority are being asked to convert to Islam by officials in the local administration. A complaint filed by Farid Chand Singh, who represents the Sikh community in Hangu district, alleged that the assistant commissioner of Tall tehsil, Yaqoob Khan, had told members of the Sikh community, who had paid him a visit, to convert to Islam if they wanted their problems solved. An incensed Singh filed the official complaint against Khan with the district commissioner. Singh told The Express Tribune newspaper that he had expressed serious concern as some Sikhs were being forced to convert to Islam by the government official. Singh also said in his complaint that the Pashto-speaking Sikh community had been living in Hangu since 1901 and had never been offended by anyone, specifically for religious reasons. He said they had always lived peacefully with Muslims. Despite Hangu having been a hotbed for sectarian conflict, residents of the district had never harmed Sikhs, who were never approached by anyone to convert to Islam, he said. Sikhs have friendly relations with Muslims, who have always stood up for the community in times of need, he added.
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