BJP leaders to meet Pak High Commissioner on Monday

Concerned over Taliban targeting Sikhs in North Western Frontier Province in Pakistan, a delegation of Delhi BJP will meet Pakistani High Commissioner Shahid Malik on Monday to press for safety of the community in that country.

Concerned over Taliban targeting Sikhs in North Western Frontier Province in Pakistan, a delegation of Delhi BJP will meet Pakistani High Commissioner Shahid Malik on Monday to press for safety of the community in that country.

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"We are deeply concerned about plight of Sikhs in tribal areas of Pakistan. So, we are meeting the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi on Monday to request safety of all the Sikhs in Pakistan," Delhi BJP General Secretary R P Singh said.

He also demanded New Delhi to take up the issue with Pakistani Government so that steps are taken to save the people of Indian origin living in Taliban-ruled areas in Pakistan.

Several Sikh families have fled from the Aurakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after they failed to pay 'Jazya' to the Taliban.

Reports from Aurakzai said Taliban had imposed 'Jazya' (protection tax imposed on non-Muslims under Shariah law) and destroyed houses of 11 Sikh families who failed to pay the huge tax of Rs 50 million each till April 29 when the deadline expired.

Taking serious note of Sikhs being driven away, India has conveyed its concerns to Islamabad over the treatment meted out to the minorities in that country.