Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 3, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/173486/150-Sikhs-and-Hindu-families-moved-to-Punjab.html
More than 150 Sikhs and Hindu families displaced
by violence and fighting between militants and security forces in Pakistan's
North Western Frontier Province and tribal areas have moved to the Punjab
province for shelter.
"So far, over 150 Sikh and Hindu families
have arrived at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal and Rawalpindi from places
like Buner, Swat and Aurakzai Agency," Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman
Asif Hashmi said on Saturday.
"We have made arrangements for accommodation,
food and security for the displaced Sikh and Hindu families in all five major
gurdwaras in Punjab," Hashmi told PTI in Lahore.
Hashmi said he was personally monitoring the
arrangements and would ensure that all facilities are provided to the Hindus
and Sikhs till normalcy returned to their respective areas.
"We will not ask them to leave until
peace is restored in their areas," he said.
The ETBP is responsible for looking after
Hindu and Sikh holy sites across Pakistan and facilitating visiting and local
pilgrims during religious events.
Sikh and Hindu families had to leave their
homes and properties in Buner and Swat in the NWFP after a military operation
was launched last week to flush out the Taliban.
The small Sikh community in Aurakzai tribal
region left the area after they failed to pay jiziya or a tax levied on non-Muslims
by the Taliban.
The family of Sardar Surang Singh is among
those that shifted to Gurdwara Panja Sahib. Talking to PTI on phone, Singh
said his native town of Buner was peaceful before the arrival of the Taliban.
"Though the Taliban did not levy any
tax on minorities in Buner, everyone, including Muslims of the area, was intimidated
by their presence. It is not just the issue of minorities as thousands of
Muslims of Buner and Swat are also fleeing to save their lives," Singh
said.
"Like other residents of both towns,
my family too wants the early completion of the army operation so that we
can return to our homes," he said, expressing concern at leaving his
property at the mercy of the Taliban.
"I don't know whether our property and
homes will be safe when the military operation will be over," he said.
India on Friday raised the issue of the demolition
of houses of Sikhs in Aurakzai Agency with Pakistan, which responded by saying
the Sikhs were its citizens and the issue was of "no concern" to
New Delhi.
Dozens of Sikh families have left Aurakzai
Agency in the past few days after failing to pay the jiziya of Rs 50 million
demanded by the Taliban.
