Worrying letters were recently sent to Sikhs in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, prompting a strong condemnation from Jathedar Harpreet Singh of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. The Jathedar has made an urgent plea to both the Indian and Pakistani governments, asking them to take the required steps right once to secure the safety of Sikh families in Pakistan.
Jathedar Harpreet Singh, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue, said that threatening letters were sent to Sikh families in Rawalpindi and Panja Sahib, urging them to convert to Islam or leave the country. The Sikh communities have been surrounded by a pall of dread and anxiety thanks to this disturbing campaign.
He recalled that 30 years ago, families in Kabul, Kandahar, and Wazirabad, Afghanistan, used to serve at the homes of respected Gurus, recalling a similar history of persecution. Unfortunately, when violence increased against them, many Sikhs were forced to leave Afghanistan, and now there are barely a few (about five to seven families) still there.
Jathedar Harpreet Singh traced the roots of the continuing danger to a wave of targeted violence that eventually reached Pakistan. Many Sikh families fled to safer areas, such Pakistani Punjab’s Panja Sahib, Lahore, and Nankana Sahib, as a result of this wave. He stressed the urgent need to apprehend individuals responsible for mailing the threatening letters, citing the seriousness of the situation.
In addition, Jathedar Harpreet Singh strongly suggested that gurdwara boards use their power to lobby their governments. The safety of Sikhs in Pakistan should be a shared priority, and they should work together to find solutions to this problem.
The ongoing instability in Pakistan has made it very worrying for Sikh families there. Jathedar Harpreet Singh’s calls for immediate and decisive action must not fall on deaf ears. The international community is waiting with bated breath for the governments of India and Pakistan to take action to ensure the safety of these populations.
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