KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
01-Mar-2024
Ramesh Singh Arora, a member of Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, was unanimously elected as the President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) for a three-year term in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 1. He also assumed the role of ambassador to the Kartarpur Corridor, replacing Ameer Singh. The PSGPC, chaired by Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Arshad Farid Khan, underwent changes with new members appointed, including three from the government
26-Feb-2024
The recent reshuffle in the Pakistan Singh Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (PSGPC) has raised concerns due to the inclusion of members with reported anti-India sentiments. Notably, Ramesh Singh Arora, Tara Singh, Maheesh Singh, and Bhagat Singh, all first-generation converted Sikhs, have been flagged for their alleged connections to individuals wanted by India or banned Khalistani terror outfits like the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Tara Singh, in particular, is known to be close to Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode. Additionally, Gian Singh Chawla and Dr. Mimpal Singh, also part of the committee, have been noted for their anti-India views.
26-Feb-2024
According to Pakistani sources, Murtaza Ali Shah, a journalist associated with GEO News, allegedly faces life-threatening situations orchestrated by India due to his reporting on Khalistan-related issues and pro-Khalistan Sikh activists. Shah's coverage of Sikh issues, particularly the Khalistan Referendum and the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), drew attention from India, resulting in the banning of his social media accounts last year.
25-Feb-2024
According to sources, the Pakistan Singh Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (PSGPC) has undergone reconstitution, raising concerns among some Pakistani Sikhs and the Indian government. The committee comprises 13 members, including three official representatives and 10 others, notably Ramesh Singh Arora, Tara Singh, and Maheesh Singh, who are first-generation converted Sikhs. There are apprehensions regarding their appointment to key positions within the committee, with objections raised against their lack of traditional Sikh upbringing and potential affiliations. Additionally, individuals like Ramesh Singh Arora have drawn scrutiny from the Indian government due to familial ties with individuals wanted for criminal activities. The reconstitution has sparked discussions surrounding religious representation and geopolitical implications.
25-Jan-2024
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Qazi on January 25, while speaking to reporters in Islamabad, stated that Indian agents were involved in the killings of two Pakistani citizens, Shahid Latif and Muhammad Riaz Ahmad alias Abu Qasim, on Pakistani soil, citing similarities with cases in Canada and the United States (US).
21-Dec-2023
The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, during her weekly media briefing in Islamabad in Pakistan, on December 21 claimed to possess "substantive evidence" of alleged Indian involvement in supporting and financing militant groups to destabilize Pakistan. Baloch also mentioned plans to share more details with the media soon.
19-Dec-2023
The statue of Ranjit Singh, initially installed at Lahore's Shahi Fort in 2019 and vandalized three times, will now be placed at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, in Shakargarh tehsil of the Narowal District in Pakistan. Gifted by Sikh historian Bobby Singh Bansal, the statue faced repeated damage, leading to the decision to relocate it to Kartarpur near the Darshan point.
18-Dec-2023
The recent reports suggest that Dawood Ibrahim, considered a fugitive and India's most wanted underworld figure due to his involvement in criminal activities, including links to terrorist organizations, is being poisoned in Pakistan.
04-Dec-2023
The Pakistan police on December 4 arrested the ringleader of a gang that had robbed a Sikh family in Lahore. The gang members had disguised themselves as security personnel, and the arrested individual is identified as Ahmad Raza. The Sikh family, visiting from India for Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary festivities, was looted of INR 2,50,000, PKR 1,50,000, and jewellery in the Gulberg area of Lahore, Pakistan. Raids are being conducted to arrest other members of the network.
03-Dec-2023
Pakistani news sources have expressed concern over India's alleged involvement in the attempted overseas assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, likening it to Mossad’s tactics. They are calling for an investigation and urging Western nations not to overlook India's alleged 'death squads.' This emphasizes the risks to national security and the need to halt the perceived infringement on rights and freedoms.
01-Dec-2023
Lakhbir Singh Rode, the chief of banned terror outfits Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), died on December 1 in Pakistan at the age of 72. Rode, a nephew of slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was listed as an 'individual terrorist' by India and had fled to Pakistan from India. Rode, accused of orchestrating terror-related activities, faced charges, including involvement in a tiffin bomb blast in Punjab in 2021. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had confiscated his land earlier this year, and he was under investigation for six cases related to terrorism between 2021 and 2023.
30-Nov-2023
An Indian Sikh family on November 30 was looted by ‘robbers dressed in police uniform’ in Lahore in Punjab province of Pakistan. The robbers, armed with guns, looted cash, jewellery, and valuables from the family.
23-Nov-2023
According to a report by The Intercept, Pakistan has reportedly heightened the security of individuals designated as terrorists by India amid fears of alleged 'death squads.' The report cites 'secret documents' from Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau, claiming that India has hired individuals for the assassinations of 'Sikh and Kashmiri activists' in Pakistan. Indian security sources deny the existence of 'death squads' and suggest that some reported deaths are part of Pakistan's efforts to eliminate unwanted individuals.
21-Nov-2023
A report by the Pakistani source The Intercept claimed that India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been planning assassinations of Sikh and Kashmiri activists residing in foreign countries. The documents allege that RAW is collaborating with local networks to carry out attacks on individuals and religious institutions supporting an armed insurgency in Kashmir, as well as targeting Sikh activists in Pakistan.
18-Nov-2023
A video went viral showing a song and dance party organized on November 18 by Pakistan's Project Management Unit (PMU) with claims of non-vegetarian items being served near Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Kartarpur in Punjab province of Pakistan. Presidents of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) expressed concern, stating that such activities violate Sikh sentiments and the sanctity of a place associated with Guru Nanak Dev. They have demanded a public apology for the reported violation.
12-Nov-2023
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) in Pakistan has proposed maximizing the religious tourism potential of the Kartarpur Corridor to attract Sikh pilgrims. ETPB chairman Syed Atta-ur-Rahman aims to encourage longer stays, enabling pilgrims to partake in various religious rites.
10-Nov-2023
Mohsin Naqvi, the caretaker Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, on November 10 launched the 'Sikh Yatra Booking Portal,' an online platform for Sikhs worldwide to book hotels, hire security services, and arrange transportation for pilgrimages to the province. Naqvi described it as a groundbreaking religious tourism initiative to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting their holy places in Pakistan. This move emphasizes Pakistan's commitment to providing a seamless and obstacle-free experience for Sikh visitors, including the establishment of a dedicated 'Tourism Police Force' to promote religious tourism in Punjab, he said.
07-Nov-2023
Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, recently instructed authorities to provide maximum facilities and support to Sikh pilgrims visiting the country for religious festivals. He emphasized the significance of Sikh pilgrims as guests and stressed the importance of expediting the visa issuance process while maintaining transparency.
20-Oct-2023
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesperson, Aamir Hashmi, on October 20 revealed the board's decision to digitize five temples and gurdwaras in Pakistan. The sites include Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Katas Raj temple, Chakwal, Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, and Sadhu Bela Mandir, Sukkur. The initiative aims to provide virtual tours for devotees and enhance their spiritual connection with these religious sites. The tours will be accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. The ETPB manages properties left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after the 1947 partition.
16-Oct-2023
According to reports, there have been calls for the establishment of Khalistan in the central area of Karachi in Pakistan with slogans proclaiming, "Pakistan Banega Khalistan, Karachi Banega Khalistan, Mulla Banega Khalsa." A video displaying these slogans has garnered substantial attention on social media. Pakistan has faced allegations of encouraging separatist sentiments in Punjab, particularly through its support for the Khalistan movement and assistance to Khalistani militants. This situation has escalated to the extent that pro-Khalistan slogans are now surfacing in the region, the report said.