PESHAWAR: Representatives of various bodies of minorities have expressed concern over reports about production of jailed MPA-elect Baldev Kumar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership had struck an underhand deal with him.

All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarab Diyal told Dawn that the MPA-elect had been behind bars in connection with the murder case of Sardar Soran Singh, a former adviser of the chief minister, and he did not have any right to get perks and privileges meant for a lawmaker.

“Soran Singh had rendered great services to the people irrespective of their religious affiliation. He had built worship places for all the communities in Buner district and served the humanity,” Mr Diyal said.

He said that Mr Kumar was an accused in the murder case and he should not be brought to the assembly unless he was cleared of the charges. The non-Muslims, he said, were concerned that a person facing a criminal case under anti-terrorism law was imposed on them. He said that the minority communities would hold a protest demonstration and observe black day on the production day of the MPA-elect.

Accuse PTI of striking a deal for Senate polls with him

Sikh community representative Sardar Charan Jeet Singh urged the PTI leadership to materialise its commitment and oppose bringing the MPA-elect to the assembly.

MPA Azeem Ghauri of the Christian community said that Kumar was being brought to the assembly for the only reason that he would vote for a PTI candidate in the Senate election. “We are opposed to the production of Baldev Kumar, but cannot do anything as PTI has majority in the assembly,” he said.

Mr Ghauri, who belongs to PML-N, blamed the provincial government for not providing funds to the opposition members, especially the non-Muslims. “PTI had promised that Baldev Kumar will not be brought to the assembly, but the party failed to fulfil its commitment with the family of late Soran Singh,” he said.

Ajay Singh, son of the late lawmaker, claimed that his family was facing serious threats from Mr Kumar. He claimed that Mr Kumar was involved in the murder of his father and he could go to any extent against their family. He said that it was duty of the provincial government to file an appeal against the court orders.

“The provincial government has bargained over the blood of my father. I am a student and cannot pursue the case in courts,” Ajay Singh said and added that the entire game was set for a vote in the Senate election for a PTI candidate.

Mr Kumar is in prison as accused in Soran Singh murder case since 2016. Mr Kumar was No 2 on the priority list of PTI for minority reserved seat and as such the Election Commission of Pakistan had notified him as minority MPA on the seat vacated due to Mr Singh’s murder in Buner district.

The Peshawar High Court has issued orders for administering oath to Mr Kumar as member of KP Assembly and the speaker has issued his production order.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2018