A social activist and prominent member of the Sikh community in Peshawar was killed on Tuesday in what appeared to be a targeted attack. As per police report Charnjeet Singh, was on his way home from his shop when unidentified men opened fire at him, killing him on the spot. The attackers immediately fled after having committed the heinous crime.
This incident of target killing is another addition in the long list of martyrs of peace. Charanjeet sing was an advocate of interfaith harmony and initiated the precedent for Sikh community to arrange iftaars for underprivileged Muslim community in the month of Ramazan in Peshawar. He was a key figure in establishment of Pakistan Council of World Religions in 2006. By profession he was a trader and ran a general store in Peshawar after migrating from Kurram Agency in 1970s. His iftaars had become pleasant news for peace activists around the country and his efforts for harmony were greatly admired.
The incident speaks volumes of the fact that the society is moving forward at full pace to be kept hostage to extremism and this is the high time we must realize the nature of this alarming situation. The fact is not denying that terrorism is by product of extremism and while the state has done commendable job to curb the terrorism it has not done the needful against extremism. As per National Action Plan (NAP) there will be a crackdown on hate-speech, and action will be taken against newspapers, magazines contributing to the spread of such speech. Measures will be taken to stop religious extremism and to protect minorities. But it seems nothing much was done regarding curbing extremism from the society.
It is evident that elements involved in terrorist and extremist activities are enemies of humanity and the country. Miscreants want to sabotage the peace of the country but they cannot succeed in their nefarious design if we remain united. Anti-state elements that want confrontation between different religions try to exploit such incidents to their advantage. Islam has provided protection to the lives and properties of non-Muslims living in a Muslim state, and we are bound to follow its commandments. Founder of Pakistan has given great importance for the protection of minorities in Pakistan. Pakistan belonged to all of us and it was the responsibility of Muslims to provide protection to non-Muslims living here. Muslims are also not safe in Pakistan, but this should not be used as a justification to tolerate attacks on non-Muslims.
There is dire need to curb the alarming situation of growing extremism in the society.