As human rights activist Charanjeet Singh is killed in Peshawar, Sikhs in the region determined to fight for their religious and social rights.

52-year-old human rights activist and religious leader Charanjeet Singh, Vice President of Peshawari Singh Sewa Society was shot dead in his shop by unknown assailants on the outskirts of Peshawar.

He was a trader by profession and was vocal about the religious rights of the Sikhs in Peshawar.

Sikhs in Peshawar have been at the receiving end for a long time. Many Sikhs -young and old have been killed.  In 2014 too, a Sikh youth was killed and two injured in a similar manner while they were attended to their shop.  

Sikhs in Peshawar complain that they have not received much support from either Sikh quarters or from the federal or local government in Pakistan. The recent killing has jolted them but as per reports they are determined to stand up for their rights. In 2014, a senior leader among them is reported to have said, “If we are not welcome here, let the authorities send us to Canada or the United States or anywhere else.”

Yet another act of terror. Sardar Charan Jeet Singh, activist and a leader of the Sikh community in #Peshawar, shot dead in his shop near Kohat Road. #Pakistan #minorityrights https://t.co/8egSOBTuZ0 pic.twitter.com/YC1LOpJUG1

— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) May 29, 2018

As per latest reports, Sikhs from Nankana Sahib and other parts of Pakistan are converging on Peshawar to take stock of the situation.

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It is understood that unlike Sikhs in Nankana Sahib, Sikhs living in Peshawar struggle to get their religious and social rights honoured, facing discrimination from authorities as well as attacks from those inimical to minorities.