By Ravinder Singh Robin
Amritsar, Apr. 22 (ANI): The killing of former president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Swarn Singh on Friday sent a shock wave to the Sikh community across the world, who deplored the heinous act in strongest possible terms.
Singh was on his way back home on a motorcycle after attending a public rally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of former cricketer Imran Khan when he was shot dead reportedly by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) terrorist.
Describing his killing as a “huge loss to the community”, Ramesh Singh Arora, a member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly in Pakistan, told ANI over phone from Lahore that Singh was on his way back home in Banur near the Swat valley after attending a public meeting when he was attacked by some unidentified people.
Singh had also served the PSGPC, which manages gurdwaras across Pakistan, as secretary for a long time. He was an active member of PTI, which rules the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan.
Singh, 52, who was Parliamentary Secretary for Minorities in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was known for bringing Sikh and Hindu marriage acts separately in the province.
Condemning the killing, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) additional secretary Daljit Singh Bedi called it “an attack on the minority community members, who are already living in fear in Pakistan”.
He said the lives and properties of Sikhs living in Pakistan, especially in the frontier province of Pakhtoon area, were in danger.
A small time businessman, Singh was hailed by as a custodian of Sikhs’ rights in the area. “A crusader for the Sikh rights has been silenced,” said Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK.
Deploring the killing of the Sikh leader, Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said, “He was a custodian of the ‘Nanakshahi Calender’.”
Terming the killing “a heinous and condemnable act”, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief J.S. Hothi and coordinator Dr. Pritpal Singh said, “Swaran Singh was a leader of the community, who was working for the protection of the Sikh interests in that area of Pakistan. We strongly condemn the killing.”
Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB) chairman Farooq ul Saddiq said Swaran Singh was helpful to every community.
Shaikh Azhar, a PETPB trusty, told ANI that he was saddened by the news of killing of Swarn Singh. (ANI)
https://in.news.yahoo.com/sikhs-around-world-deplore-former-psgpc-chiefs-killing-173424976.html