National News
Will take up at highest level in Pakistan government reports of forceful conversion of Sikhs: Sushma Swaraj
Sushma's reaction came after leading Pakistan daily The Express Tribune published a news story about the Sikh community raising serious concerns after being forced to convert to Islam by the government official in Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
India will take up at the highest level in the Pakistan government reports of Sikhs being forced to convert to Islam by a government official in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday.
Her reaction came after leading Pakistan daily The Express Tribune published a news story about the Sikh community raising serious concerns after being forced to convert to Islam by the government official in Hangu district of K-P, reports news agency PTI.
“We will take this up at the highest level with the Government of Pakistan,” Swaraj tweeted while tagging the Indian High Commission in the report. According to the news report, the community has lodged a complaint with Deputy Commissioner Hangu Shahid Mehmood, claiming that Assistant Commissioner Tehsil Tall Yaqoob Khan was allegedly forcing Sikhs to convert to Islam.
Replying to a separate tweet regarding a man in Punjab trying to get the body of his son, who was reportedly shot dead in Manila, Swaraj said the government was seized of the case. “Indian Embassy in Manila is pursuing this with the Police. The mortal remains will be sent from Manila on 21st December,” she tweeted.
She was replying to a tweet, “No bigger pain for an old man than the news of the death of his son but his pain intensifies when he is unable to see even his dead body. Requesting Sushma Swaraj Ji to help family of Harpreet Singh (shot dead in Manila) from village Wander Jatana to bring youth’s body back to Punjab.”
Another report by PTI on Tuesday also said that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged Swaraj to take up with Islamabad the issue of alleged “forced conversion” of Sikhs to Islam in Pakistan.
“It is the responsibility of the Indian authorities to intervene in the matter and ensure that the said coercion is brought to an end.
“We are duty-bound to protect the identity of Sikhs, wherever they may be living,” Amarinder said in an official release in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
