Amid outrage over Nankana Sahib Attack, a 25-year-old Sikh man has allegedly been killed in Peshawar, Pakistan. The deceased has been identified as Ravinder Singh who was the brother of a journalist, Harmeet Singh, Pakistan’s first Sikh journalist in electronic media.
The victim’s body was found in the Chamkani Police Station area in Peshawar. However, the alleged killer is yet to be identified. Ravinder Singh hailed from Malaysia who had come to Pakistan for his wedding and was in Peshawar for the shopping.
Speaking to media, his brother Harmeet said, “My brother used to do business in Malaysia and had returned to Pakistan a month ago. He was going to get married in February and went to Peshawar for shopping.”
India has strongly condemned the “targeted killing” of Singh. “India calls upon the Government of Pakistan to stop prevaricating and take immediate action to apprehend and give exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of these heinous acts,” the MEA said.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal took to Twitter to condemn the killing.
Just two days ago, hundreds of angry Muslims had pelted stones at the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The agitated mob was led by Mohammad Hassan’s brother who had allegedly abducted a Sikh girl from her home and converted to Islam and married to a Muslim boy.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh also tweeted, “Shocked and anguished over the killing of Sikh youth in Pakistan, coming on heels of Nankana Sahib attack. @ImranKhanPTI govt must ensure a thorough investigation and strict punishment for the culprits. This is the time to act on what you preach.”
Members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee and Shiromani Akali Dal have condemned the incident, terming it as “cowardly” and “shameful”. They protested against the Pakistan embassy carrying banners and placards reading “Shame on Pakistan” and “Double standard of Imran Khan, Sikhs are being tortured in Pakistan”.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan broke his silence over the incident and said that there is a “major difference between the condemnable Nankana incident and the ongoing attacks across India on Muslims and other minorities“.
