Series of attacks shape Sikh community in Pakistan | Fusion - WeRIndia

The Sikhs of Pakistan who live in the country’s restive northwest, the celebrations in the Panja Sahib Gurdwara in Hasan Abdal (55 kilometers from Islamabad where Guru Nanak, the founder of the religion, is said to have imprinted his hand) are more of a time of healing after there have been six murders during August and September which left the whole community in fear.

The Sikh religion which was founded 500 years ago in what is now part of Pakistan is a minority there.

Pakistan has nearly 200 million Muslims which makes the Sikhs just a minor part. After India and Pakistan gained independence from British Empire in 1947, most Sikhs left Pakistan to India.

However, there are still around 20,000 Sikhs remaining in Pakistan today. Most of them are in the country’s restive northwest. This place has been shaken up by Islamist insurgency for more than a decade. As a result many Sikhs were forced to leave their homes in the tribal areas on the Afghan border for the city of Peshawar.

In that location, many have set up businesses as traders. They are easily recognizable by their distinctive untrimmed beards and high turbans which make them distinct from Muslims. However the killings have changed everything. Even the police were left clueless.

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