Sikh leader forced to flee Pakistan following repeated 'threats to life'

Pakistani Sikh politician Resh Singh Tony, who was reportedly first candidate from country's Sikh community to contest an election for a general seat in 2018, has fled country along with his wife and three sons because of continued threats against his life. Earlier, Sikh leer h deactivated his Twitter account after he was assaulted by "unidentified" armed men a few weeks ago. Following attack, he shifted from Peshawar to Lahore. w as per reports, Tony along with his family has fled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to threats and is likely to assume asylum in India.

On Wednesday, Tony, who is also a mirity rights activist, released a video statement from an unverified Twitter account making an appeal to Sikh community to help him and his family and take m out to some safe place.

tweet was re-tweeted by Zar Ali Khan Afridi, a 'Human Rights Defender working in FATA' in Pakistan. "Resh Tony a kwn Human Rights Defender from Peshawar needs to be safe. He is at highest risk. He and his family must be protected. Pakistani state operatives are killing him," tweeted Afridi.

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Tony h been target of Islamist extremists as well as critic by Pakistan's ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He h t only received threats against his life but also undergone a brutal assault by a group of young men. It was reported that Tony h been doing well in politics and h been turning into a popular leer within mirity community. 

Speaking about atrocities faced by Tony, Shiromani Akali Dal (S) leer Manjinder S Sirsa said, "Resh Singh Tony, who h contested 2018 general elections in Pakistan from Peshawar as an independent candidate, was allegedly tortured by some unidentified people last month. He is receiving threats & is forced to leave country."

Tony h often been critical of ruling government and complained about deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan. He was only mirity politician from Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to have contested election as an independent candidate last year. Sikh community has been facing multiple atrocities against m by Pakistan with recent one being brutal attack by a mob of 400 on ir holy shrine, Gurudwara Nankana Sahib, birthplace of Guru Nanak. 

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India h strongly condemned incident of vandalism at revered Gurdwara and called upon Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure safety and security of Sikh community re. main accused in incident of vandalism at Nankana Sahib has been arrested and charged with a n-bailable section of stringent anti-terrorism act

(With ncy inputs) 

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