Karachi, Pakistan (August 29, 2013): The Pakistan Sikh Council on August 28, 2013 called on the government and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of growing incidents of desecration of Sikh scripture – Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in various parts of Sindh.
Addressing the press conference, PSC head Sardar Ramesh Singh said that so far five incidents have occurred which forced him to bring it to the government’s notice.
Most of these incidents have occurred inside Hindu temples where the holy book was kept as many people from the Hindu community.
Chairman Pakistan Sikh Council Ramesh Singh showing pictures of the alleged desecration at a press conference in Karachi on August 27, 2013
The first incident occurred a few months ago at the Samadha Ashram in Shikarpur where a Hindu elder was accused of “drawing pictures” on Guru Granth Sahib, enraging many in the Sikh community, Resham Singh told the press conference.
Similar incidents later occurred in Dil Darbar in Pannu Aqil, then Khatt Wali Darbar in Shikarpur, the Sajal Sher Jhoolay Lal Darbar in Shikarpur and Guru Nanak Darbar Meer District of Dadu.
According to Dawn.Com: [Resham] Singh alleged some “extremist elements” wanted to create a discord between Hindus and Sikhs who had been living peacefully in Sindh.
“We, like any other Pakistani, don’t want a negative portrayal of our country. That was one of the reasons we didn’t appear in the media. But now the situation is getting out of our control,” he added.
Explaining further, he said most of the cases in which saroop of Guru Granth Shaib was desecrated occurred in the Sukkur division.
Following the incidents, the PSC approached police officers, and though the police registered an FIR, they still haven’t arrested the person nominated as a suspect.
“I believe that such people have no religious or political identity, but in this case we think there is a political motive behind it,” Resham Singh added without naming any names.
Ramesh Singh said DIG Police West Shahid Hayat was contacted for his help in registering the FIR.
“When asked, Hayat said: “We facilitated them in registering the case in Sukkur against the person they nominated after complaints that the local police was not registering the FIR. The government has formed a committee to look into the situation. Further details will be communicated by the committee itself”.”, Dawn.Com writes.
Resham Singh called on the Sindh government to resolve the issue. “Otherwise, we have the right of removing the sroops of Guru Granth Sahib from the temples, and nobody can stop us from doing so,” he reportedly added.