Raise issue of atrocities against Sikhs in Pak in UN: SAD to Jaishankar

A Shiromani Akali Dal (S) delegation, led by its president Sukhbir Bal, urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday to seek a categorical assurance from Pakistan that those responsible for a "hate attack" on Sikhs, as well as stoning of Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, would be given an "exemplary punishment."

Bal also urged Jaishankar to raise issue of atrocities being committed by Pakistan against mirities in United Nations, party said in a statement.

Claiming that from 40,000 Sikhs as per 2002 census, number of community members h come down to around 5,000 in Pakistan, Bal said, "This itself is proof of forced conversions."

Citing recent incident of stoning and attack by a mob on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, birthplace of first Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev, S chief said if anybody could attack and stone holy shrine, n mirity was safe in Pakistan.

" delegation requested External Affairs Minister to seek a categorical assurance from Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan that assets and lives of mirities would be protected and that all those responsible for hate attack on Sikhs as well as stoning of Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib would be arrested and awarded an exemplary punishment," statement quoted Bal as saying.

S delegation said Pakistani government should be asked to take prompt and exemplary action if any mirity community was targeted in any manner.

delegation members also told Jaishankar that recent events in Pakistan h hurt sentiments of Sikh community worldwide and Sikhs living in Pakistan h alrey stated that y were feeling insecure.

Later in day, external affairs ministry summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'affaires Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest over alleged desecration of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, and killing of a Sikh in Peshawar.

ministry said Shah was conveyed that India wanted immediate measures to expeditiously bring perpetrators of such "despicable and heius acts" to justice.