Shangla's minorities want better representation in Pakistan polls

Pakistan will hold the general polls this year.

The Sikh community has been living in Shangla before the arrival of Muslim communities in the areas they live in. Besides, a high number of Sikhs are living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, mostly businessmen or associated with the medical profession, reported Dawn News.

As per the National Database and Registration Authority, 6,146 registered Sikhs are living in KP, down from an estimated two million at the time of partition in 1947.

Gulzari Singh, a former district council member, selected on a reserved seat in 2015, said it had been his dream to participate in the elections on general seat from his hometown of Chakesar, but despite showing his interest and aspiration before the party leadership, he wasn’t awarded the party ticket.

“We have a history and track record of working for Muslim majority community in the past; my grandfather Santhram had lightened the Chakesar tehsil and its suburbs with electricity in 1996, and a girl school was also constructed by him through his faith legislator friend from Rawalpindi,” Singh told the newspaper.

He said the minority community members could participate in polls and work for the Muslim as well.

Guldeep Kumar, who is a local leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, told Dawn News they had never been allotted a reserved seat despite their struggles for the party. He said party’s leaders did not recognise their struggles.

Amrjeet Kumar of the Awami National Party demanded equal treatment of all communities.

If the political parties award tickets to workers of other faiths then they have a chance to speak up for their rights and represent their community," hr was quoted as saying by the newspaper.