LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to uncover the motives behind the brutal murder of a Sikh couple in Mardan and ensure the protection of minority communities and their places of worship across the province.
Addressing a press conference alongside minority MPA Suresh Kumar and PML-N Mardan President Syed Inayat Shah Bacha, Arora said the KP Police should also review the conduct and psychological fitness of its personnel to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
Earlier, the minister met DIG Mardan Qasim Ali Khan and DPO Mardan Masood Ahmed and discussed the progress made so far in the investigation. He also attended a prayer ceremony at a gurdwara, where he met the daughter of the deceased couple and expressed his condolences and solidarity with the bereaved family.
Arora said that although a sizeable Sikh population once lived in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, their numbers had gradually declined due to various circumstances. He observed that the incident in Mardan’s Babu Mohallah had not only damaged Pakistan’s international image but had also received widespread coverage in global media, causing concern and anger among Sikh communities worldwide.
He said the DIG and DPO had assured him that the arrested suspect was being investigated strictly on merit and would be brought to justice in accordance with the law. However, he stressed that the scope of the investigation should be expanded to identify all possible motives and factors behind the crime.
Questioning the provincial government’s performance in ensuring public safety, particularly for minorities, Arora said incidents of this nature raised serious concerns and could not be dismissed as the act of a single individual. He called for a comprehensive inquiry into all aspects of the case.
The minister further said that individuals holding extremist views should be kept away from minority places of worship. He added that if any police official was found to be associated with extremist ideologies, strict action should be taken against them. He also demanded full security for the family of the deceased couple and those involved in registering the case.
Praising the Sikh community of Mardan for maintaining peace despite their grief, Arora said the community had shown remarkable restraint by avoiding violence and unrest. He noted that any attack on minorities in any part of the country affected not only a particular region but also Pakistan’s overall image. Arora urged the federal and provincial governments to adopt a coordinated strategy to eliminate terrorism and extremism and to make the protection of all citizens, regardless of faith, a top priority.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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