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Sikhs migrating from Pakistan's restive tribal district

by hussain | May 1, 2009 at 02:10 am

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The people belonging to Sikh community settled in Pakistan's troubled Orakzai tribal district for centuries are migrating from their area because of intimidation at the hands of militants, who are demanding them to pay Rs15 million as annual protection money acording to the decision of a jirga (tribal council).

PESHAWAR: Sikhs, living from centuries, are now resolving to say goodbye to Orakzai Agency and migrating to unknown places due to tensions in the region besides local Jirga also ordered them to pay annual protection money worth of 15 million rupees to militants.

According to sources, militants captured the shops and homes of 35 Sikh families and arrested the head of their community Klank Singh and Sewa Singh in the Ferozkhel area of Lower Orakzai Agency.

As a result, a local Jirga was held which pronounced 15 million rupees levied on Sikh community to be paid to militants as protection money at the end of every year.

Following the Jirga ruling, militants auctioned their houses and other belongings while Sikh community has started migrating from the area.

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Amy Judd

at 08:50 on May 1st, 2009

Wow, that's about $360,000 CAD - that's insane, and really sad that they have to leave.

Roy C

at 09:09 on May 1st, 2009

Insane and historically the case that "people of the Book" can continue to practice their faith after paying the dhimmi tax, a tax on non-Muslims by Muslims.

israeli.agent

at 09:21 on May 1st, 2009

Yes, it is truly amazing.

Elsewhere, in a neighbouring"Infidel" country Muslims get subsidy to go to Hajj - that too at taxpayer's expense.

Court clears Haj subsidy for this year

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday cleared subsidy payment for the Haj and provision of a grant to Mansarovar pilgrims by the Centre for this year.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari passed this order after Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati said the Allahabad High Court was yet to dispose of the writ petition questioning the grant of the Haj subsidy.

The Bench extended the interim stay on the High Court order (restraining the Centre from providing funds or giving financial subsidy for the Haj or any other pilgrimage) until the petition, filed by B.N. Shukla, was disposed of. It asked the High Court to dispose of the petition expeditiously.