Sikh activists hold protest; Akal Takht, SGPC flay Pakistan

THE SIKH POLICE OFFICER WAS FORCIBLY EVICTED FROM HIS HOUSE AT DERA CHAHAL GURDWARA IN LAHORE

AMRITSAR: : Members of various Sikh outfits on Wednesday came out on roads and protested against the forcible eviction of Pakistan’s first Sikh police officer, Gulab Singh, from his house in Dera Chahal in Lahore.

The protesters burnt the national flag of Pakistan on the Lawrence Road.

They were holding black flags during the protest.

“Instead of following rules and regulations to evict the Sikh officer from his house, the Pakistan government disrespected his faith, which is condemnable. We appeal to the Indian government to take up the matter with the Pakistan government. Action should be taken against those who were involved in thrashing the Sikh officer,” said the protesting Sikh activists.

Protesters said they will continue the protest till Gulab Singh gets justice.

Gulab Singh was allegedly manhandled and forcibly evicted out of his house along with his family members allegedly by the officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

It is pertinent to mention that the Evacuee Trust Property Board is the parent body of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee .

The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) also condemned the attack on the Sikh officer.

Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Gulab Singh had been doing sewa (voluntarily service) as a ‘pathi’ Singh in the Gurdwara Dehra Chahal in Lahore, besides being a traffic police officer.

TAKE STRICT ACTION AGAINST ACCUSED, SAYS JATHEDAR

He said if a man does sewa in a gurdwara, it is mandatory for him to have a residence in the gurdwara, but it was unfortunate that Evacuee Trust Property Board evicted the officer from his house along with members of his family.

He said the Pakistan administration should take strict action against the accused who manhandled the officer while evicting him from his house.

SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal also sought action against those who were involved in disrespecting the faith of Gulab Singh.