SHANGLA: As the country heads to parliamentary elections on February 8, the Shangla’s religious minorities are looking for better representation and a voice that will speak up for them and secure their fundamental rights.

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.

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

In most cases in the past, religious minorities and even women aspirants were allotted a small number of reserved seats to become members for both national and provincial assemblies based on their party’s gained seats at the polls, hence they have neither the full power of representation in the assemblies nor in receiving the share of funds.

Complain parties often ignore them in award of tickets for general seats

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,” Mr Singh claimed.

He said they could represent and work for the welfare of Muslims and also the minorities in a perfect way.

Mr Singh, who is associated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said they had been living in Chakesar since their forefathers, and got actively involved in politics.

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

Mr Kumar said PPP always awarded tickets for general seats in both general and local body elections to local influential people.

Amrjeet Kumar of Awami National Party said they should be treated equally. “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.”

He said they had been facing multiple problems. He added their Shamshan Gat (crematorium) had no pathway and its condition was dilapidated.

In a recent development, PPP has fielded Dr Saveera Parkash from Buner district on a general seat of KP Assembly for the coming elections, which the Sikh community termed a milestone achieved.

Ms Parkash is an MBBS doctor by profession and the party’s women wing general secretary for Buner. She is the daughter of PPP religious minority leader Dr Oam Parkash.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s district president Liaqat Ali Yousafzai told this scribe that the party believed in equal distribution of tickets, including minorities and women. He added PTI would consider if anyone from the minority community was interested in party ticket.

He claimed party’s former chairman Imran Khan was trying to change the traditional (family) politics.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023