Islamabad, June 19: A climate of fear has emerged among religious minorities in Pakistan following the murder of an elderly Sikh couple inside a gurdwara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to reports, minority communities have long been targets of radical Islamic groups.
On June 17, 72-year-old Jagannath Wanti and his 69-year-old wife Asha Wanti were shot by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle while they were inside the gurdwara in Mardan. The attackers fled the scene immediately.
Sahib Singh, an elderly Sikh from Peshawar, stated that this daylight double murder has instilled terror within the entire community. He spoke to the Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News, noting that the incident occurred on the first day of Muharram, a time when security measures should be heightened to prevent communal violence.
He expressed concerns about the alleged negligence in security, questioning the police system in Mardan, which has a population of approximately 2.7 million, with over 99.5% being Muslim. According to community leaders, around 350 Sikhs, 1,300 Hindus, and about 7,500 Christians reside in Mardan.
During Muharram, thousands of police and paramilitary forces are deployed across Pakistan to ensure the safety of religious processions and gatherings. Sources from the Sikh community report that over 25 Sikhs have been murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent years, with most attacks occurring in Peshawar.
Local media reports indicate that various extremist groups, including the Pakistani Taliban and those linked to the so-called Islamic State, have consistently targeted minority communities. According to their radical ideology, these communities are considered legitimate targets for attacks.
Sahib Singh lamented that, unfortunately, no place of worship feels safe today. He called for a transparent and scientific investigation into the murders and urged for better security measures for minority communities.
Suresh Kumar, a Hindu member of the provincial assembly, also appealed to the police for the swift arrest of those responsible for the killings.
Earlier in April, a prominent minority rights organization reported the brutal murder of a young Hindu businessman in Sindh. According to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), a young man named Vishal Kumar was shot dead in broad daylight in Sukkur, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity throughout the city.
The organization stated that this murder was carried out openly and with extreme brutality, raising serious concerns about the safety of local minority communities.
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