US Hindus and Sikhs condemn atrocities on Sikhs in Pakistan

MEMORANDUM TO MR. MOHSIN RAZI , CONSUL GENERAL OF PAKISTAN                                                                         MAY 6, 2009

 

 

 

Mr. Mohsin Razi

Consul General of Pakistan

12 East 65th Street

New York, NY 10065

 

Sub:  Protest Against Atrocities on Sikhs in Pakistan

 

Hon. Mohsin Razi:

 

We, the undersigned, living in New York are highly perturbed and deeply disturbed at the atrocities perpetrated on our Sikh brothers in Pakistan .

 

It is a matter of great regret and shame that our  Sikh brothers in Pakistan were targeted by Taliban to pay $50 million as religious tax (Jazia).   When they refused to pay the Jazia, their houses were ransacked, looted and blown to bits.  They were terrorized and warned that they would be killed if they did not pay the tax.

 

We consider this as an egregious violation of human rights.  Because of threat to their lives, 150 Sikh families have moved from  Buner, Swat and Aurakzai Agency to Rawalpindi , Lahore and other parts of the country.

 

State Department spokesman Robert Wood has described Taliban as “ruthless killers”.  We are very anguished to note that Government of Pakistan has so far taken no action to bring the culprits to the book.  We condemn Pakistan government’s deliberate connivance at criminal activities by Taliban towards our Sikh brothers.   

 

We would also bring to your attention that last month a group of 35 Hindu people crossed over to India and sought Government of India ’s permission to stay in India because they could not take the harassment and barbarities of Taliban.

 

 

Sikhs have been living in Pakistan under subhuman conditions.  In 2007, Jihad Watch had reported that an 18th Century Sikh Gurudwara in  Lahore was taken over by a Muslim group and converted into a mosque.

 

Hence, we urge you to kindly bring to the attention of Government of Pakistan our distress and apprehension, and ensure safety and security of our Sikh brothers in Pakistan .

 

Very truly yours,

 

Narain Kataria

President

Indian American Intellectuals Forum, New York

(718) 478-5735

 

 

Bhupinder Singh Bhurji

Chairman and CEO

Namdhari Sikh Foundation, New York

(917) 370-2500