Pak Sikh leaders condemn beheading of Sikhs

Leaders of Pakistan's minority Sikh community on Monday called on the government to negotiate with the Taliban for the safe release of other Sikh traders kidnapped by militants following the beheading of two captives.

Leaders of Pakistan's minority Sikh community on Monday called on the government to negotiate with the Taliban for the safe release of other Sikh traders kidnapped by militants following the beheading of two captives.

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Pakistan Minority Council chairman Sardar Bishon Singh and Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee chief Sardar Sham Singh said the federal and North West Frontier Province governments should hold talks with the Taliban for the release of abducted Sikhs.

They also called on authorities to provide security to Sikhs, especially those living in the troubled northwestern city of Peshawar.

"The Taliban had demanded Rs 30 million from the families of the abducted men and they killed Jaspal Singh after they did not get the ransom," Sardar Bishon Singh said.

He said the Sikhs had secured the release of another member of the community who was kidnapped about six months ago by paying Rs 1.2 crore as ransom to the Taliban in Aurakzai Agency.

"We had pooled resources to pay the ransom in that case, but unfortunately we could not do the same in this case," Bishon Singh said.