Pakistan's Minorities Citizens

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Celebrating Guru Nanak`s message of peace









ISLAMABAD: Hassanabdal has a special significance in Sikhism as it is home to the hand imprint, or Punja of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Almost 500 years ago, Guru Nanak founded the Sikh religionin this area,based on universal love, equality and brotherhood, peace, harmony and sharing with others, especially with those in need.

This makes the Panja Sahib one of the three holiest shrines in the Sikh religion, the other two being the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India and the Nankana Sahib in Sheikhupura, Pakistan.

The 100-year-old Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal hosts four events in the Silch religious calendar, for which Sikh pilgrims travel to Pakistan from around the world, including from India, Afghanistan, UK, USA, Canada and the Gulf countries.

This gurdwara or the `door to guru` is revered by Sikhs for what they believe is the imprint of the palm of the founder of their faith on a rock above a spring which feeds a pond where the pilgrims take holy baths.

A large number of pilgrims especially travel to Hassanabdal for Besakhi and the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, also known as Gurpurab.

Gurpurab begins with Prabhat Pheris, early morning processions which start from the gurdwaras and thengoaroundthe area, singing shabads or hymns. The celebrations also include the three day Akhand path, during which the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is read continuously, from beginning to end without a break. On the main day of the festival, the Granth Sahib is also carried in a procession on a Boat decorated with flowers around the city or village.

Five armed guards, who represent the Panj Pyares, head the procession carrying the Nishan Sahibs or the Sikh flag. Local bands play religious music during the procession. Free sweets and langar or community lunches are also offered to everyone irrespective of religious orientation. Men, women, and children, participate in this karseva as service to the community, cook food and distribute it in the `Guru ka Langar`,withthe traditional`KarahPrasad`.

Worshippers also visit local gurdwaras special programs are hosted in which kirtans or religious songs are sung. Houses and gurdwaras are lit for the festival.

Guru Nanak Dev was a seer, saint, mystic and a poet. He preached universal love and Sikhs all over the world celebrate his birth anniversary to reaffirm their belief in the teachings of the founder of their religion.

Indian pilgrims accorded warm welcome in Ghotki

SUKKUR: Seventy-two Hindu pilgrims, including women and children, were accorded a warm welcome at the Mirpur Mathelo railway station.

The delegation is currently visiting Pakistan to attend the 308th birth anniversary of Sant Shada Ram at Reharki in Ghotki district.

Headed by Sant Yudhishter Lal, the pilgrims will attend three-day celebrations at Shadani Darbar. A large number of people gathered at the railway station to catch a glimpse of Sant Yudhishter Lal who is a disciple of Shadani Darbar.

The delegation was warmly received by elders of the Hindu community who, besides showering rose petals on the members of the delegation, presented a traditional dance.

Later, the delegation was escorted to Shadani Darbar in a motorcade.

The three-day celebrations at Shadani Darbar include recitation of Geeta and Guru Granth and Agni Pooja. Mass weddings, which are the regular feature of the three day Mela, will also be organised.

According to reports, 19 couples will tie the knot at the mass wedding ceremony. Poor couples are provided dowry and other necessary items by well-to-do devotees in the shape of cash and gifts.

Free food, milk, tea and other items are distributed among the devotees during the day festivities.

Shadani Darbar is said to be the biggest Hindu temple in Sindh and its disciple, Sant Yudhishter Lal lives in Raipur, India, and visits Pakistan every year on the eve of three-day festivities along with a delegation.

Arranged by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the pilgrims will visit seven cities of Sindh. They are to leave for India on December 3 through the Wagah border crossing point.

Sindh passes historic law to criminalise ´forced conversions´





KARACHI: Sindh Assembly Thursday passed a law making "forced conversions" punishable with a life sentence and forbidding minors from changing their religion, a bid to protect minorities in the province.

The new bill, passed by legislators of Sindh province, also mandates a 21-day waiting period for any person who wants to convert.

"It is necessary to criminalise forced conversions and provide protection for those who are victims of this abhorrent practice," an excerpt of the bill, seen by AFP, reads.

Forced conversions, particularly of Hindus to Islam, are an issue in Sindh and throughout the Muslim nation of some 200 million, where minorities have long fought for their rights.

In 2014, an advocate group which campaigns against religious violence in Pakistan told US Congress that forced conversions generally involved the abduction of girls or young women who were made to convert to Islam and married.

The Movement for Solidarity and Peace said girls were often raped or beaten and, when the family complained to police, the abductor claimed the girl had willingly converted.

Exact figures are unverifiable, but hundreds of people are believed to undergo such conversions each year.

The legislation bans anyone under the age of 18 from changing their religion. It calls for a minimum sentence of five years and maximum of life imprisonment for anyone found to be forcing people to convert.

"It is a historic law we have carved and passed," Nand Kumar Goklani, a Hindu legislator and author of the law, told AFP.

"This will end the plight of minority Hindus, who will feel more protected now," he said.

It is a good gesture to protect minorities and let them practice their faith without hindrance.

Financial assistance of Rs 95 million provided to minorities

Islamabad: Ministry of religious affairs and interfaith harmony extended an aid of Rs 95 million to minorities (Christians) during last four years.

Out of this assistance, 724 Christian students were granted scholarships of about 5 million rupees, and grant of over Rs 50 million was provided in connection with 49 development schemes in different areas.
According to report of religious affairs, for the marriage of widow’s daughter, Rs 50,000 marriage grant is provided to the poor Christians families.
The government has given financial aid to 7713 Christians in its tenure from which Rs 1.5 million has been given this year.
So far 19 development schemes has been given in year 2013-14, 18 in year 2014-15 and 12 in year 2015-16.

These funds are provided out of Minorities welfare fund.

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Manbir Kaur - Pakistan's 15 y.o. Sik girl who topped in metric exams nationally last year. She is not only one of the smartest Pakistani kid but sings exceptionally well too, mostly sikh religious hyms. Mashallah!
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Lahore

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Hindus finally get place to pray in Islamabad



ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Friday approved land in Islamabad for the construction of a Hindu temple, a community centre, and a cremation ground.

There were 10 items on the agenda of the board meeting, the most significant of which was the allocation of a four-kanal plot in Sector H-9 for a Hindu temple, community centre and cremation ground in the federal capital. It was a longstanding demand of the Hindu community which has finally been fulfilled.

There are around 800 Hindus living in Islamabad, and in the absence of a temple, they were forced to celebrate Diwali and other religious festivities at home.

As there was no crematorium in the federal capital, they also had to take the bodies either to Rawalpindi or to their hometowns for cremation. The only large temple in the twin cities is Krishna Mandir in Kabari Bazaar, Saddar, although a few smaller ones exist in residential parts of Rawalpindi cantonment.

The CDA board allocated the plot in H-9/2 close to one that had already been allocated to the All Pakistan Buddhist Society. A summary for the plot’s allotment was placed before the CDA board meeting for formal approval on Friday.

City to get seven Christmas bazaars



LAHORE: Seven special Christmas bazaars will be set up in the provincial metropolis to facilitate Christian community to celebrate Christmas.

Over 6,000 Christian employees of the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) will also get advanced salaries along with annual incentive in next couple of days. The Lahore Waste Management Company has also prepared a plan to maintain cleanliness on Christmas.

Besides, Charismas preparation is gaining momentum with every passing day. In this connection, the British Council will hold an event this weekend in Karachi and Lahore. The LWMC will also hold a cake cutting ceremony on December 23.

Meanwhile, sale of Christmas-related decorative items is on the rise. Preparations are also on peak at several churches, including Saint Anthony's, Cathedral Church, Lahore Diocese Church, St Joseph's Church, St Mary Magdalene Church and others.

Special duties have been assigned to the City District Government (CDGL) officials for monitoring arrangements of Christmas bazaars.

According to details, bazaars will be set up at different towns of the city, including Nishtar Town Youhanabad area, Danbasco School Railway Headquarter at Data Gajhbaksh Town, Jalo Mor and Batapur at Wagha Town, Bhar Colony Kot Lakhpat and Makkah Colony Bazaar at Gulberg Town, Alahi Bukhs Road at Ravi Town and China Scheme in the jurisdiction of Shalimar Town.

Talking to Daily Times, Lahore District Coordination Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman said that district administration was establishing temporary special Christmas bazaars for local Christians. He said that special direction had been passed to each town administration for taking special arrangements on Christmas. He said that 100 stalls would be set up in seven Christmas bazaars. He said that purpose of establishing the bazaars was to facilitate Christian community.


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’شکر ہے کہ پاکستان کرکٹ میں سکھ لڑکا سامنے آیا‘
ذیشان ظفربی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام

• 20 دسمبر 2016

MAHINDAR SINGH
پاکستان میں حالیہ برسوں میں سکھ برادری کے نوجوان فوج سمیت متعدد شعبوں میں سامنے آئے ہیں وہیں ایک اب سکھ نوجوان قومی کرکٹ ٹیم میں شامل ہونے کے لیے پرامید ہیں۔

رائٹ آرم فاسٹ بولر مہندر پال سنگھ نے حال ہی میں مردان سے نشینل کرکٹ اکیڈمی کی جانب سے ایمرجنگ کرکٹرز میں منتخب ہوئے اور ملتان میں 28 نومبر سے 11 دسمبر تک ٹریننگ مکمل کی۔

مہندر پال سنگھ نے بی بی سی سے بات کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ ٹریننگ میں مدثر نذر، مشتاق احمد نہ صرف ان کے کھیل کی تعریف کی بلکہ چیئرمین کرکٹ بورڈ شہریار خان نے ملتان کی کرکٹ اکیڈیمی میں ان سے ملاقات میں تعریف کی اور بلکہ خوش ہو کر کہہ کر 'شکر ہے کہ پاکستان کی کرکٹ میں کوئی سکھ لڑکا سامنے آیا ہے۔'

انھوں نے کہا کہ فاسٹ بولنگ میں سپیڈ تو 130 کلومیٹر فی گھنٹہ تک ہے لیکن ان کے پاس گیند کو ان اور آؤٹ سوئنگ کرنے کی قدرتی صلاحیت ہے جو فاسٹ بولنگ میں سپیڈ سے زیادہ اہم ہے۔



’ پی سی بی کے چیئرمین نے بھی بولنگ کی تعریف کی‘

Merry Christmas to all our Christian brethren in Pakistan & worldwide.

Peace & Joy to the world !

We have all religions living under one roof , beautiful.