Call for international intervention as religious sites, minority communities come under threat
LAHORE – In an urgent press conference held at the Lahore Press Club, Punjab’s Minister for Minority Affairs and Chairman of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, condemned an alleged Indian drone attack on the revered Sikh shrine of Nankana Sahib, describing it as a serious breach of international law and an attack on religious freedom and human rights.
Joined by Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari and prominent Sikh figures—including Sardar Bishan Singh, Satwant Kaur, Sardar Jaskaran Singh, and Kalyan Singh Kalyan—Arora voiced grave concerns over what he claimed was a deliberate attempt by India to target religious sites and minority communities in Pakistan.
“This provocative act is part of a wider conspiracy to tarnish Pakistan’s image as a tolerant and peaceful nation,” Arora asserted. He further accused India of systematically targeting mosques and other places of worship, calling the pattern deeply troubling.
Referring to the recent Pahalgam incident in Indian-administered Kashmir, Arora dismissed India’s allegations against Pakistan as “fabricated and staged,” intended to mislead the international community and shift focus from its own domestic issues.
Arora emphasized the strong historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and the global Sikh community. He noted that thousands of Sikh pilgrims who recently visited Pakistan for the Baisakhi festival had praised the country’s hospitality, safety, and commitment to religious freedom.
He warned that India was attempting to sow discord between Sikh and Muslim communities as part of a broader campaign of psychological warfare, while also spreading misinformation regarding attacks in Amritsar and on the Golden Temple. “Pakistan holds the utmost respect for the religious sentiments of the Sikh community and would never engage in such acts,” he stressed.
The minister reiterated that religious minorities in Pakistan are free to practice their faith and are treated with dignity and equality. He called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to urgently investigate India’s alleged provocations and its treatment of minority groups.
Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari also addressed the press, condemning the Indian media’s role in fueling hostility and reaffirming the Pakistani media’s support for religious harmony and national unity. “The Lahore Press Club will always remain open to all religious minorities, especially our Sikh brothers and sisters,” he said.
Sikh leaders in attendance echoed Arora’s statements, affirming their trust in Pakistan’s commitment to interfaith respect and the protection of religious sites. They pledged full support to Pakistan’s armed forces and warned that any future act of aggression by India would be met with a firm and unified response.
