ISLAMABAD: Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Isphanyar Bhandara visited the Sikh community in Swat on Tuesday to express condolences and solidarity following the recent murder of Sewadar Jagannath Singh and his wife at a Gurdwara in Mardan.
Sikh Sangats from the districts of Mardan, Buner and Swat gathered at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Mingora, where Bhandara met community representatives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and the wider Sikh community.
Addressing the gathering, Bhandara reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between the Bhandara family and Pakistan’s Sikh community and assured them that their concerns would be pursued at all appropriate forums.
He stated that the matter would be raised in the National Assembly as well as in the Parliamentary Minority Caucus, while advocating for enhanced protection of places of worship, strengthened community policing, and improved screening and periodic psychological evaluation of law enforcement personnel to reinforce professionalism and public confidence.
He emphasized that every effort must be made to ensure that a transparent investigation was conducted and that all those responsible for the crime were brought to justice in accordance with the law.
Subsequently, Bhandara visited the residence of the bereaved family in Mingora, where he offered his condolences and prayers for the departed souls.
On the occasion, he also distributed financial assistance, sewing machines and food supplies among deserving members of the Sikh community as a gesture of support.
Bhandara further announced a number of community development initiatives for the Sikh population residing in Mardan, Buner and Swat, including the rehabilitation of Shamshan Ghats, improvement of access roads and execution of other essential infrastructure projects aimed at addressing longstanding civic requirements.
Representatives of the Sikh community expressed their appreciation for Bhandara’s visit and welcomed his assurances regarding the pursuit of justice and his commitment to addressing issues affecting the community through appropriate institutional forums.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026