THE Premier of Sind, Mr M.A. Khuhro … on Tuesday’s [Jan 6] trouble in Karachi, said: “The trouble arose because of the arrival of about 180 Sikhs in Karachi by the early morning train. Because of the massacre, loot and rape committed by the Sikhs on Muslims in the East Punjab, Delhi and other places, public feeling runs very high against them. The Sind Government had, therefore, opposed the idea of bringing Sikhs from the outlying parts of the province into Karachi, for purposes of evacuation to India.”

The Premier was repeatedly approached by the local Hindu Congress and the High Commissioner for India in Pakistan, but he declined to accept the proposal not only because of the risk involved, but also because these were Sindhi Sikhs and they had a right to stay in this province.

The Premier said: “However, on account of the constant pressure from the above-mentioned sources, it was stipulated by the Sind Government that if these Sikhs were to be brought into Karachi a timely warning should be given to the police to enable them to make arrangements for their protection, and that Sikhs should not be made to stay in Karachi.” — News agencies

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2023