Karachi Sikhs Concerned Only Gurdwara May be Demolished

February 27, 2006

Source: The International News

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2006-daily/27-02-2006/metro/k1.htm

On February 27, 2006 The International News reported, "The minority Sikh community, which is said to have 2,500 registered voters in Karachi, is extremely disturbed because it fears that its only place of worship in the city, the Gurdwara Ratan Tala, situated on plot No AM335 near Preedy Police Station in Saddar, would be demolished soon. The Gurdwara Ratan Tala was established in 1932 in the heart of the city but during the government of military dictator General Ziaul Haq in 1984, Nabi Bux Government College was established in its compound and the area was taken over by the Sindh education department. However, the gurdwara remained untouched and the Sikh community kept performing their rituals until some six months ago when police intervened on the pretext that 'college students were disturbed by their worship,' according to Sardar Ramesh Singh, chairman, Sikh Naujawan Sabah. Singh told The News that now the principal of Nabi Bux Government College, Prof. Allah Bux Awan, has sent a letter to the Sindh education department to demolish the gurdwara on the grounds that it was in dilapidated condition. The market value of the place is worth millions of rupees."