Gulab Singh, a Sikh police officer in Pakistan was reportedly thrashed, disrespected and forcibly evicted from his house in Lahore’s Dera Chahal. According to reports, Gulab Singh is Pakistan’s first police officer. In a video, he is seen pleading with Pakistani authorities to give him at least 10 minutes time. He says that his family has been living in that house since 1947. He states that he was given no notice to evacuate his house.
#WATCH: Pakistan’s first Sikh police officer Gulab Singh was forcibly evicted from his house in Lahore’s Dera Chahal. Pleads to the police, ‘at least give us 10 minutes we are staying here since 1947. pic.twitter.com/wszl99bNJr
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2018
In another video by ANI, Gulab Singh states that he was thrashed and manhandled by the local police and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). He is seen saying that his turban was opened and his religious rights were violated. Gulab Singh was reportedly thrown out of his house with his wife and 3 children.
WATCH: #Pakistan’s first #Sikh police officer Gulab Singh was forcibly evicted from his house in Lahore’s Dera Chahal, says, ‘my faith was disrespected, If they wanted me to evict the house then they could have simply sent me a notice’ pic.twitter.com/OWH7Rmjn5z
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2018
Gulab Singh alleges that he is being targetted and harassed. He had filed a case in 2011 against Syed Asif Akhtar Hashmi, the former chairman of ETPB for illegally selling off land that belonged to Gurdwara. In February 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had reportedly held Hashmi guilty of illegally selling Gurdwara properties.
Gulab Singh alleges that Pakistan’s treatment of its minorities is deplorable and he is being specifically targetted.
It is notable here that Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan have been constantly targeted by the authorities. Last month Sikh human rights activist Charanjeet Singh was gunned down near his residence in Peshawar. There have also been instances of Hindus being harassed and humiliated in the Islamic country. Hundreds of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains from Pakistan have left the country have been living in India. The government of India is in a process to grant them citizenship status.
