(Chanchal Manohar Singh writes from Chandigarh: It is for the first time in the history of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib that local people protested outside Gurdwara Sahib and also threatened to damage the Gurdwara building. The Society for Promotion of Peace strongly condemns this action of the local population. Ms Jagjit Kaur is the daughter of a granthi at one of the Gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib. The SPP appeals to the Governor of Punjab, Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar that special arrangements should be made immediately to normalise the situation in Nankana Sahib. The family of Ms jagjit Kaur is also provided with security immediately. Such incidents damage the image of Pakistan)
Pakistan official version:
Protest demonstration Nankana Sahib*
1. A protest demonstration was held by relatives (120/130) of Hasaan Zulfiqar local of Nankana Sahib who has recently married a Sikh girlfriend Jagjit Kaur (muslim name Amna after embarrassing Islam) from 1600 to 1900 hrs led by Imran Zulfiqar brother of Haasan. Protesters marched in Nankana Bazar, condemned the alleged pressure tactics and chanted slogans against the government and local authorities. Local Police has recently picked up four relatives of Hasaan Zulfiqar. Jagjit Kaur (presently in Darul Aman) is appearing in Court on 8 January to record her statement the relatives of the boy were picked up police two days back and were released this evening. The protesters dispersed peacefully at around 2000 hrs
2. It was a purely a law & order issue and a matter of local politics. It has no concern with other religious communities. The protesters remained peaceful. No loss of life and property was reported.
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Indian Government demands steps to ensure security of the Sikh population
New Delhi: India condemned the vandalism carried out at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on Friday after reports emerged that hundreds of locals pelted stones at the gurdwara and surrounded it, leaving several Sikh devotees stranded.
The Ministry of External Affairs also asked the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the members of the Sikh community.
“We are concerned at the vandalism carried out at the revered Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan today. Members of the minority Sikh community have been subjected to acts of violence in the holy city of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji, ” the MEA said.
The locals were apparently protesting against the Sikh community’s opposition to the alleged forcible conversion of a Sikh girl to Islam and her marriage to a Muslim boy. The protesters were led by the family of a man who was accused of forcibly converting the Sikh woman and demanded the release of suspects, Dawn reported.
“These reprehensible actions followed the forcible abduction and conversion of Jagjit Kaur, the Sikh girl who was kidnapped from her home in the city of Nankana Sahib in August last year, ” the MEA said.
Condemning “these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place”, India asked the Pakistan government to take strong action against the miscreants.
“India strongly condemns these wanton acts of destruction and desecration of the holy place. We call upon the Government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of the members of the Sikh community, ” the MEA stated. “Strong action must be taken against miscreants who indulged in the desecration of the holy Gurudwara and attacked members of minority Sikh community. In addition, Govt of Pakistan is enjoined to take all measures to protect and preserve the sanctity of the holy Nankana Sahib Gurudwara, ” the MEA further said.
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Protester outside Gurdwara Nankana Sahib
Protestors surround Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, disperse after negotiations
The Dawn Report
Nankana Sahib (Dawn Report): Scores of protesters surrounded the Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, located in its namesake city, on Friday afternoon, threatening to overrun the holy site if their demands for the release of suspects in an alleged forced conversion case were not met.
However, the protesters dispersed after several hours in the evening following successful negotiations between them and government representatives, which led to the release of the arrested persons.
On Friday, Ehsan's family alleged that police had raided their home and detained several family members, including Ehsan, ahead of the next court hearing scheduled for January 9. “Today, police personnel raided our home and arrested my brother and relatives after torturing them, ” Ehsan’s sister told the media outside the Gurdwara, claiming that the police also tortured women and children present in the house.
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, also known as the Gurdwara Janam Asthan, is the site where the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, was born and is regarded as one of the holiest sites in the religion.
On Friday evening, scores of charged protesters staged a sit-in outside the Gurdwara. They were led by the family of a man, Ehsan, who was accused of forcibly converting a Sikh woman, Jagjit Kaur, earlier this year.
Local protesters led by the family of led by Imran Zulfiqar brother of Haasan who forcibly converted and married Jagjit Kaur
On August 28, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in the Nankana police station against six people who were accused of abducting and forcefully converting the 19-year-old woman.
The police subsequently traced the suspects to Lahore and detained one of them. Later, the woman had submitted a written statement in the court, stating that she had converted to Islam and married Ehsan of her own free will. She also accused her family of "wanting to kill me".
The woman was subsequently shifted to a Darul Aman shelter on the court’s orders, after the Sikh community had demanded that the police bring her back to her parents' house irrespective of the conversion being forced or consensual.
On Friday, Ehsan's family alleged that police had raided their home and detained several family members, including Ehsan, ahead of the next court hearing scheduled for January 9. “Today, police personnel raided our home and arrested my brother and relatives after torturing them, ” Ehsan’s sister told the media outside the Gurdwara, claiming that the police also tortured women and children present in the house.
Ehsan’s family also alleged that the police were trying to pressure them ahead of the court hearing. For his part, the District Police Officer of Nankana Sahib, Ismail Kharak, said that the suspects were arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by a citizen regarding a dispute. He did not, however, comment on the family’s allegations regarding the police’s attempts to pressure them ahead of the hearing.In the evening, successful talks were held between the protesters and the PTI Nankana Sahib president Pir Sarwar Shah. Police subsequently released all arrested persons, following which the protesters ended their protest and dispersed from the site.