Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed grave concern over the increasing attacks on the members of the Sikh community living in the restive province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. He said, urgent measures were needed to be taken to restore the confidence of the Sikhs living as a microscopic minority there.He appealed to the External Affairs Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj to convey India’s concern to Pakistan government as the Sikhs in that province were increasingly feeling unsafe and insecure after repeated attacks that led to killings and injuries to many.In a statement issued here today, Capt Amarinder said, yet another Sikh businessman was shot dead in Peshawar yesterday. He said, this was the third attack in one month which has resulted in fear and panic among the Sikh community. He said, two people have died while many others have been injured in these attacks in a span of less than a month.
“What is concerning us the most is the impunity with which the people are being killed and the perpetrators going scot-free”, he said, while adding, “till now not a single culprit has been identified leave aside being arrested or prosecuted for these attacks”.The former Punjab Chief Minister hoped that both the federal and provincial governments in Pakistan will ensure the security of the minorities there, particularly the Sikhs who have come under increased attack. At the same time he observed, the government of India must flag the issue for the attention of authorities there.“This is cause of concern in India as the Sikhs were being selectively targeted in the recent attacks taking place at an alarming regularity”, Capt Amarinder observed, while urging the central government to convey a firm message to Pakistan that there was growing concern here in India over what was happening in Peshawar for the last one month.