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Updated June 5th, 2018 at 16:25 IST

Pakistan's minority communities on edge after double targeted killings. Full details here

A spate of gory incidents in Pakistan have led to a heightened sense of alertness among minority communities in the country.

Reported by: Digital Desk
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A spate of gory incidents in Pakistan have led to a heightened sense of alertness among minority communities in the country.

On Tuesday, May 29, Charanjeet Singh, a Sikh human rights activist, was shot at his shop in Peshawar in the north of Pakistan. In what is suspected to have been a targeted killing, an attacker opened fire on Singh, a prominent proponent of interfaith harmony, while he was making his way to his shop. A case was registered against an unknown attacker at a police station in Inqilab, Peshawar.

Reacting to the incident, unusually, was the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Khurram Dastagir, who said that he condemned "the reprehensible murder of Sardar Charanjeet Singh, a patriotic Pakistani and eminent member of the Sikh community. 

As per reports, the police has approached the counter-terrorism department (CTD) in its investigation. 

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted on the matter. In response to Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal's tweet that read...

"Being a minority community, the Sikhs have always been facing discrimination in Pakistan. I request the Union External Affair Minister Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji to take up the issue with her Pakistan counterpart to ensure safety and security of the Sikhs in Pakistan"

...Sushma Swaraj wrote:

"Sukhbir ji : I fully share your concern. I have already asked for a report from our High Commissioner in Islamabad. I will revert on this."

However, while Pakistan has acknowledged the killing of Charanjeet Singh, for the next attack, there has been no action:

Just five days after Charanjeet Singh's killing, on June 3, another suspected targeted attack led to the killing of a tailor who belonged to the Hindu community. Naresh Kumar Meghwar was shot dead in Gwadar when bike-borne assailants opened fire at his shop. Two other Hindu tailors were also injured in the attack, which bore a resemblance to the murder in Peshawar.  

The incidents and the non-responses to them by the Pakistani authorities have done little to instil confidence among the minority communities in a country that has a sketchy record of religious freedoms. Over the last few years, Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws and their wanton implementation have also caused the deaths of scores of people.

Nasirul Mulk is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, serving in a caretaker capacity as the country is due to hold general elections on July 25

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Published June 5th, 2018 at 16:25 IST

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