Pakistan’s first Sikh cop assaulted, evicted from Lahore residence

"In 1960, the board was made, which was completed in 1975. It made a contract with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), saying that Sikhs in Pakistan will not be ill-treated. Despite this, we have been evicted. In the name of gurdwara, they have amassed crores of rupees and not a single penny was spent on us," he added.

Picture taken from Gulab Singh Shaheen's Facebook account.

Lahore: Pakistan's first-ever Sikh police officer, Gulab Singh, has accused the government of forcefully evicting the Sikh community from the country.  Singh and his family members were manhandled and forcefully evicted from his house on Tuesday. He alleged that his turban was forced open and his hairs were untied in what he describes was “an attack on his faith”. "Since 1947, my family has been staying in Pakistan. Even after the riots, we did not leave Pakistan. Now, we are being forced to leave. My house is sealed with all belongings including my slippers inside. Even this 'patka' on my head is an old rag which I just wrapped. I was harassed, beaten and my faith was disrespected,” he told news agency ANI. Following the incident, Singh claimed that his forceful eviction was done by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). It is pertinent to mention that the ETPB is the parent body of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC). "In 1960, the board was made, which was completed in 1975. It made a contract with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), saying that Sikhs in Pakistan will not be ill-treated. Despite this, we have been evicted. In the name of gurdwara, they have amassed crores of rupees and not a single penny was spent on us," he added. Singh continued, "I am now in the court. I will file a case of contempt of court." According to ANI, he has urged the SGPC and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to decide the future course of action. He also alleged that PSGPC president Tara Singh was the main culprit behind the incident. He had leveled corruption charges against Tara Singh in 2016 as well. "I am being treated the way goons are treated. I have been ousted from my house and they have now locked my house. The concerned officials have done this to please a few people. They have specifically targeted me. You must have noticed that there is no turban on my head. They unravelled my turban and opened my hair", Singh said. Hindus, Christians and Sikhs in Pakistan have often reported repression but the administration has done little to address the prolonging problem. In view of the attack on Gulab Singh, Sikhs in Amritsar protested against it. The said "if they had to evict him they should've followed protocol. Disrespecting his faith is wrong. If Pakistan doesn't want Sikhs, our govt should get them here."

Sikhs in Amritsar protested against unlawful eviction of Gulabh Singh(1st Sikh personnel in Pak police)from his house,say,'if they had to evict him they should've followed protocol. Disrespecting his faith is wrong. If Pak doesn't want Sikhs, our govt should get them here'#Punjab pic.twitter.com/5E1WjyYbA4

— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2018

Many of them held placards that read "Give Asylum to Gulab Singh in India."