Pakistan initiates an inquiry into forced conversion of Sikh minority to Islam

Islamabad, December 26: Pakistani authorities say they have initiated an inquiry into allegations that members of the Sikh religious minority were forced to convert to Islam in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Islam and our constitution doesn’t allow forced conversions,” Yousufzai added.

“Had it been from someone ordinary, it would have never been felt so offending, but when you hear such things from a government official, it becomes something really serious,” Farid Chand Singh, a Sikh community leader from Hangu, told Pakistan’s Express Tribune, a daily English-language newspaper.

The Sikhs say they feel extremely vulnerable in Pakistan and the recent allegations indicate that those who are supposed to protect their rights instead force them to convert to Islam, according to media reports.

Notably, Minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, said in a tweet Tuesday that India will discuss the matter with Pakistan.

Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, Thursday confirmed the incident and said the government is investigating the matter. Reacting to Swaraj’s tweet, Faisal said what occurred in Hangu is an internal issue for Pakistan to deal with.

“Once all facts are available to us, we will then give an official and detailed response to the Indian minister,” Faisal told the media.

The Sikh community in Hangu district last week filed a complaint, accusing a government official of forcing them to convert to Islam. Lodging a complaint with Deputy Commissioner Hangu Shahid Mehmood, the community members claimed Assistant Commissioner Tehsil Tall Yaqoob Khan was allegedly forcing Sikhs to convert to Islam.

Over the years, there have been a number of religiously motivated attacks against minority Sikhs in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In 2014, unknown gunmen opened fire on Sikhs’ in a bazaar in Peshawar, killing one Sikh shopkeeper and injuring two others. In 2016, Sardar Suran Singh, a Sikh leader and a provincial lawmaker, was killed near his home about 160 kilometers from the provincial capital, Peshawar.