Religious leaders belonging from different faiths condemned the recent killing of Sardar Charanjeet Singh in Peshawar and demanded the implementation of Supreme Court order to ensure protection of lives and properties of minorities.
Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Pakistan Council of World Religions (Faith Friends) Vice Chairman, Bishop Peter Sarfraz Humphrey said that Supreme Court had ordered to constitute a task force to ensure protection of non-Muslims across the country. But, he said the order was yet not implemented, due to which minorities' lives and properties, as well as religious places were not protected.
Sarfraz Humphrey said it is matter of grave concern that minorities were feeling insecure in the country. He added the recent killing of Charanjeet Singh was a glaring example of it. He called upon the government to implement the SC verdict to prevent such incident in future.
"Neither any religion is permit to kill someone, nor take law in hands, Humphrey said. He asked the police and law enforcement agencies to expedite investigation into the killing of Sardar Charanjeet Singh and arrest his murderers and award them give exemplary punishment.
He said the killing of people belonging from religious minorities was a conspiracy, being hatched to sabotage the peace process. He stressed the need for taking steps at gross root level to establish religious harmony and tranquillity in the country.
Humphrey said that the killing incident didn't happen, if the SC order implemented with true letter and spirit. He said that no serious steps were taken to create religious harmony and ensure protection of religious minorities in the country. Radesh Tony, a member of Sikh Community on the occasion demanded the constitution of judicial commission to conduct inquiry into killing of Sardar Charanjeet Singh.
He also asked the government to announce a martyred package for the bereaved family. Haroon Sarabdiyal, from Hindu community said that government didn't fufill its promise to provide community police for protection of live and properties as well as religious places of non-Muslims.
He suggested that a special endowment funds should be established to extend financial assistance to martyred family of the religious minorities. He appealed the Chief Justice of Pakistan and CoAS to take notice of the killing of non-Muslims in the country. Hafiz Abdul Ghafoor and Maqsood Ahmad Salfi from Muslim community on the occasion strongly condemned the killing of Sardar Charanjeet Singh and agreed with the demand and suggestions of religious leaders of other faiths.