SHANGLA: Most of the Sikh families living in Chakesar area of Shangla have migrated over lack of a worship place, a dilapidated Shamshan Ghat (crematorium) and other basic facilities.

“There was a community centre, which has now been turned into a rural health centre. Our graveyard for children has been occupied by local influential people. We do not have a separate school for our children and other facilities the Muslim community enjoys in the area,” Harmeet Singh, a journalist from Sikh community, said. He said the provincial and local governments didn’t focus on welfare of Sikh community.

“Our children are being forcibly taught Islamiat in schools, which is also one of the reasons behind migration of the community members to other areas as the community does not have separate school where Sikh children can get education as per their religion,” lamented Sukh Raj Singh, former district council member and ANP’s vice president for Shangla.

He said about 10 years ago there were around 40 Sikh families living in the area, but now there are just five families left.

“We have to go to Hassanabdal, Buner and Swat districts for performance of religious rituals,” Raj Singh said.

Tavendar Singh, another Sikh community member, said most of their families had migrated out of the district as they did have the place where they could go for worship.

“Our Shamshan Ghat (cremation place), is in dilapidated condition; our graveyard for children has been occupied by locals. We are also citizens of this country and deserve all rights. The government should ensure all our basic rights, including the right to perform religious rituals with freedom,” he demanded.

It is to mention here that about 35 families have migrated from Chakesar to either India or to different parts of Pakistan during last 10 years.

Harmeet Singh, the journalist, said half of his family members were now living in Islamabad.

The Sikh community members demanded of the government to ensure all the facilities to them enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

This correspondent made several attempts to get version of local MPA, Faisal Zeb on the matter, but his phone remained switched off.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2019