British Sikh Council press release for the joint Sikh and Christian delegation to 10 Downing Street

Upkar Rai presenting the British Sikh Council petition to 10 Downing Street

British Sikh Council UK
(CHARITY NUMBER: 1122686)

Memorandum

Violation of Human Rights in Pakistan

Hurtful occurrences during the year 2009 and 2010 have clearly demonstrated that Pakistani Government has been failing in protecting minorities living in Pakistan. Recently Sikhs in Peshawar have been kidnapped and forcefully being asked to convert or pay ransom. Two Sikhs were beheaded and their dicapitated heads were dumped in Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh in Peshawar by the Taliban because they refused to convert and failed to pay ransom. Some Sikhs are still being held as hostages by Taliban.

British Government has been providing huge sums of tax payer’s money to Pakistani Government for the sake of eliminating ongoing terrorism in Pakistan. Unfortunately, it looks like that Taliban and other extremist groups who are still in control of NWFP/SWAT valley. Taliban have been allowed to implement Shari'a Laws and the Blasphemy Law of Pakistan section 298A and 295b&c. Such laws are being misused by these extremist groups against minorities and also to settle personal vendettas. Above all, it is the responsibility of the Government to stop such laws being misused against innocent and law abiding Pakistani citizens irrespective of their religion and ethnicity.

British Sikh Council UK on behalf of the Sikhs in UK, urge the Pakistani Embassy to raise this matter immediately with Pakistani Government and ask for the restoration of Sikh human rights and provide protection for the Sikhs and minorities living in NWFP/SWAT and other parts of Pakistan.

Yours

Upkar Singh Rai
PR Secretary British Sikh Council UK


Bir Singh Mann
Spokesperson and Trustee British Sikh Council UK