In a significant development from the Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan -which has in the past witnessed anti-Sikh sentiments and even killings, Gurpal Singh has become a Member of the Provincial Assembly. WSN reports.

GURPAL SINGH son of Baba Sujan Singh and a resident of the Dabgari neighborhood’s Jogan Shah locality, has been appointed as a provincial assembly member by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI) party, led by Maulana Fazl ur Rehman.

His election was declared by the Election Commission of Pakistan on 26 March 2024 under the category of Non-Muslims in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Representing a minority seat, Gurpal Singh has played a pivotal role in recognizing the Sikh community as a distinct ethnicity in Pakistan’s census, a departure from their previous categorization under ‘other’ religions.

As a prominent Sikh leader from Peshawar, Singh initiated the celebration of the anniversaries of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Hari Singh Nalwa at the Peshawar Fort, also known as Bala Hisar, and ensured their photographs were permanently displayed at the fort’s museum.

He has successfully advocated against the unconstitutional and discriminatory practices hindering Sikhs from entering government buildings while wearing their ceremonial swords, Sri Sahib, in certain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas).

In the service-oriented tradition of his forefathers, Gurpal Singh has been instrumental in establishing schools, hospitals, and crematoriums for minorities in Peshawar and Attock cities, furthering his commitment to serving the Sikh and broader minority communities in the region.