The Senate on Monday expressed concern over killing of Sikhs in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their migration to other countries. The Senate also urged the federal government to take necessary steps to ensure safety of life and property of the minorities' community. Senator Zahid Khan of ANP moved an adjournment motion "regarding killing of two persons belonging to the Sikh Community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa", and the motion was admitted on October 22.
Speaking on the issue, he said that incidents of kidnapping, extortion and targeted killings were on the rise in the province as the KP government has completely failed to address these issues. "Six Sikhs have been killed in a month in the province and it is responsibility of the federal government to take necessary steps to ensure safety of life and property of the community," he said.
Pouring scorn on Imran Khan, he said that his party was busy in protest demonstrations against the government instead of helping the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "I don't know either Imran Khan prefers to remain ignorant about plight of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or his people don't show him the true picture of the province," he said.
Senator Mushahid Hussain of PML-Q backed the motion while praising contribution of the minorities in betterment of the society and Pakistan. "It's a serious situation and the government should take steps to address it," he said. Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash said that his party doesn't want to do politics on the issue but the federal government should do something practical to revive confidence of the minorities.
Permanent peace in the country cannot be achieved till the safe havens of banned organisations are eliminated across the country, MQM Senator Colonel Tahir Mashhadi (retired) said. Minister of State for Education and Training Baleegh-ur-Rehman informed the house that the federal government had expressed concern over killing of the Sikhs and was in touch with the provincial government on the issue.
"The federal government wrote two letters to the IGP and the Chief Secretary of KP on September 18 over the issue and urged them to arrest the killers as soon as possible," he said. The minister said that unfortunately no arrest has been made so far. Earlier, the Senate unanimously approved amendment in its rules to establish the Senate Forum for Policy Research (SFPR).
Senator Mushahid Hussain said the forum would provide an opportunity to discuss the important national issues besides providing a bridge between old and new members of the Upper House. "The forum would help the senators to come up with fresh ideas and also improve co-ordination with the National Assembly on different issues pertaining to national interest," he said.
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