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Sikhs in Orakzai are not of concern to India: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Saturday that the Sikhs living in a tribal area in its troubled north-west region are of no concern to India as they are Pakistani citizens.

The statement came after India’s official communication of concern to the Pakistan government and also public expression of anxiety at reports of hardships that a small group of Sikhs living in the Orakzai tribal area had to face at the hands of Taliban militants.

“When asked to comment on India’s verbal demarche with Pakistan in Islamabad and New Delhi yesterday [Friday] about Sikh families in Orakzai agency, the spokesman said that India was told that Sikhs living in Orakzai agency were Pakistani citizens and hence of no concern to India. The government of Pakistan was fully cognisant of the situation and looked after the welfare of all its citizens particularly the minority community,” the Foreign Ministry said.

According to reports from Orakzai, 60 to 65 Sikh families living in the Ferozekhel area of lower Orakzai fled their homes after the Taliban forcibly began occupying their shops and houses. Reports also said the Taliban set fire to a dozen shops and houses.

A television channel reported that the militants auctioned off the properties. It is unclear where the families have gone, presumably to neighbouring areas where other Sikh families continue to live.

The Orakzai Taliban reportedly wanted the Sikhs to pay a ‘jazia’ of Rs.12 million. The ‘jazia’ is a medieval tax that was imposed on non-Muslims living under Islamic rule and virtually amounts to protection money.

Earlier this week, the Sikhs living in the region held a ‘jirga’ to decide on whether to pay the tax but the community was divided over the issue. One report said the community offered to pay half the amount. The Taliban are said to have rejected that offer.

Small numbers of Sikhs are still present in areas around Orakzai agency – in Hangu and Kohat districts to its south, Khyber tribal agency to the north and Kurram agency to the west.

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