MINGORA: The members of minority communities here on Monday demanded of the government to provide worship and burial places to them.

The members of Sikh, Hindu and Christian communities told local journalists during a meeting that they faced difficulties in worship and it was responsibility of the government to issue funds for provision of worship and burial places to them.

The meeting was organised by Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights (JDHR).

“Luckily, we live a good and content life in Swat with Muslims. We have never realised any type of mistreatment but we face some issues regarding food and worship when we go out of our town,” said Prof Radi Sham, a member of Sikh community in Mingora.

Govt asked to include chapter on Sikhism in textbooks

He said that they also faced problems in worship as they could not find any gurdwara.

“There must be a chapter about Sikh religion in the textbooks,” he added.

Prof Radi Sham said that religious scholars should educate people about the rights of minorities in Islam during the Friday’s prayers for religious harmony.

“Our children also face problems in wearing traditional dresses and eating foods during celebrations and functions in schools. I want the education department to find solution to the issue,” said Dasonti Ram, a resident of Mingora. He said that more than 300 Sikh families were living in Swat.

Chandar Subash, another member of the Sikh community, who is also a councillor, said that equal funds should be provided to the representatives of minorities.

“Minorities must be included in Benazir Income Support Programme and also issue Sehat Insaf cards to them. The government should construct community halls for the non-Muslim communities,” he said.

The members of Christian community also demanded of the government to provide them with churches in Swat.

“Over 70 Christian families live here but they do not have church. I have personally talked to several officials and elected representatives in this regard but nobody paid heed,” said Father Samuel Gill, who lives in Mingora.

He said that there was no graveyard for Christians in Swat and they took the bodies of their relatives to Peshawar, Rawalpindi and other cities for burial. He appealed to the government to allot a piece of land to them for a graveyard.

JDHR executive director Khalid Jamil asked the local journalists to promote religious harmony, tolerance and brotherhood through their reporting.

Assistant Commissioner Hamid Khan Buneri said that Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Swat should be engaged in social activities to promote interfaith harmony.

“Muslim and non-Muslim communities should invite each other to their functions,” he said. He said that district administration would try to take up the issues of minorities with the relevant departments.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2018