Sikh hakeem shot dead in Pakistan's Peshawar

Islamabad: A Sikh hakeem was shot dead inside his clinic in an alleged case of targeted killing in Peshawar, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday, adding to the list of killings of minority community members in that country.

According to Pakistani media, unidentified assailants shot dead Satnam Singh, a hakeem (physician) belonging to the Sikh community on Charsadda road in Peshawar on Thursday.

The attackers barged into his clinic and shot at him four times. Singh, who was in his forties, was rushed to the provincial capital's Lady Reading Hospital in an injured condition where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar said that the case was being investigated.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, President, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee, said that minority Sikhs are under attack in Pakistan and urged the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to take up the matter and ensure justice.

“Gundagardi in broad daylight in Pakistan and minority Sikhs are under attack. Satnam Singh of Peshawar killed in a targeted attack at Charsadda Road. He was fired at 4 times, as per police report. We urge @IndiainPakistan to connect with his family & local police to ensure justice,” he posted.

Rahat Austin, who has been at the forefront in highlighting cases of persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan, said it was a case of targeted killing.

“It’s allegedly a targeted killing. Sikh community had a sizeable population before but most of them had to flee. There are dozens of incidents of Targeted killing of Sikhs in KPK,” he tweeted.

According to Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat, Sardar Satnam Singh was a prominent Sikh community member and hakeem in Peshawar and was shot dead in a targeted attack at his dawakhana.

“He is a resident of Hasanbdal and ran a “Dharmandar Dawakhana” apothecary,” she tweeted.

Puneet Singh Chandhok, President Indian World Forum, voiced shock over the killing.

“Shocked to learn about brutal killing of Satnam Singh, Sikh at his shop in Peshawar Pakistan,” he tweeted, and urged the UN to ensure the safety and wellbeing of minorities living in Pakistan.

He added that “Forced conversions, destruction of shrines and killings” are the handiwork of the Pakistan army, tagging the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan army.

He also requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene at the global level for the protection of Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan.

“Requesting intervention of @narendramodi ji @PMOIndia at global level for protection of our Hindu and Sikh brethren living in Pakistan and seek guarantee of @ImranKhanPTI for secured livelihood of minorities there,” Chandhok posted.

In a separate post, Rahat Austin tweeted photographs of the dead bodies of a Hindu family, tortured and killed, in Sindh, Pakistan.

“Dead bodies of a Hindu family are found hanging by neck with a tree in Goth Haji Darya khan, Tharparker Sindh-Pakistan. Police have taken the dead bodies to civil hospital for postmortem. It is said that marks of torture on the dead bodies shows that they were tortured before hanging,” Austin added. (UNI)