Pakistan summoned top Indian diplomat on Tuesday and conveyed its strong rejection of the baseless, fabricated and mischievous Indian allegations of Sikh community persecution in the country.
"Indian chargé d'affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned by Director General South Asia and SAARC Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, Tuesday, to convey Pakistan's strong rejection of baseless and fabricated Indian allegations concerning the Sikh community", said Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui.
She said that Indian diplomat was conveyed Pakistan's strong denouncement of the Indian government's motivated and mischievous allegations of "attack", "vandalism" and "desecration" at the holy Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and "targeted killing" of a Pakistani Sikh youth in Peshawar, as part of its desperate attempts to divert attention from the continuing state terrorism in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) and systematic discrimination against minorities in India.
She said that the DG South Asia and SAARC underscored that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal rights to all its citizens and the government is committed to protecting the rights of minorities, with zero-tolerance against any discrimination.
"It was emphasized that rather than pointing fingers towards others, India should focus on ensuring effective protection of its own minorities and their holy places of worship, including mosques, from repeated instances of desecration, hate crimes and mob lynching," she added.
Earlier on Monday, the Indian government summoned Pakistan's chargé d'affaires in New Delhi Syed Haider Shah to lodge strong protest at the recent acts of alleged "vandalism and desecration" of the holy Gurdwara Sri Janam Asthan at Nankana Sahib and the "targeted" killing of minority Sikh community member in Peshawar.
"India also shared strong concerns raised by members of civil society, parliamentarians and others at the continued persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, including the recent despicable and heinous acts," the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
"The government of Pakistan was called upon to ensure safety, security and welfare of the members of the minority communities in Pakistan, including their places of worship, and take immediate measures to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of such despicable and heinous acts to justice," it further stated.
The latest row in the already tense diplomatic ties between the two countries comes in the wake of scuffle in the city of Nankana Sahib between two Muslim groups following an altercation that happened on a minor incident at a tea-stall.
On Monday, District Police Officer (DPO) Nankana Ismail-ur-Rehman told media persons that the key suspect involved in Nankana Sahib's incident has been arrested by Punjab Police on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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