PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan has said that government is taking all possible steps to provide security to members of religious minorities.

He said that killing of innocent members of minorities is meant to spoil religious harmony and destabilise the country. However, he said that the elements involved in attacks on religious minorities would never succeed in their nefarious designs.

According to a statement, the chief minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of Peshawar-based Sikhs here on Tuesday. Led by Gorpal Singh, the delegation comprised the family members of the slain Sikh citizen Manmohan Singh and the injured Sikh Tarlok Singh, who were targeted in Peshawar the other day.

Azam Khan directed the inspector general of police to sit with Sikh elders to get their inputs and devise an improved security plan for the protection of the community. He also ordered the relevant authorities to install CCTV cameras in the residential areas and business points of Sikh community.

The caretaker minister for information and minority affairs, Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, the principal secretary to chief minister, Amjad Ali Khan, Auqaf and Minority Affairs Secretary Dr Asad Ali and other relevant authorities were also present on the occasion.

Talking to the delegation, the chief minister strongly condemned the killing of Manmohan Singh and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

He said that targeting the innocent minorities was highly regrettable and condemnable. He said that members of Sikh community were patriotic and peaceful citizens. He added that they were contributing to national development.

The delegation thanked the chief minister for issuing necessary directives to the relevant authorities to ensure security of minorities and extending all possible support to Sikh community.

The members of the delegation said that government had always stood by them and taken all necessary steps to resolve their issues.

On the occasion, the chief minister handed over cheques to the heirs of Manmohan Singh and Tarlok Singh for their financial assistance.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2023