Soran Singh

The moment i typed in Soran Singh on google, next to it appeared "Pakistan" to complete the search, i could feel my heart sinking already i was saddened upon his death not just because he was a minority or a Pakistani or a Sikh because he didn't deserve to die like this. Let's not jump to any conclusion so quick and let us first dig out who he actually was, because many of us were unaware of this name until the breaking news of his death popped in the red headlines.

Was he another alleged RAW Agent working on foreign agendas? Was he discriminated on the basis of religion? Oh or perhaps because of the still alive animosity against the few Hindus and Sikhs in the partition? Because the war of 1947 never really ended for most of us, or dare i say we never let it end by our enthusiastic speeches and slogans spewing hate against the "enemy" that we have become so intolerant, really, that we cannot even bear seeing a devoted and patriotic human like him living in "our" 'Islamic State' and so we decide to eliminate them one by one. But let's not deviate from the aim of introducing this man who is no more with us;

Sardar Soran Singh who was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Pir Baba area of Buner, early morning on Friday was a Pakistani Sikh Doctor, Anchor person at Khyber News, Politician and Minister of Minorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He was elected on PTI ticket for minority seat in 2013 general elections, Soran Singh is said to be an honest, devoted and down to earth person. He had a simple and humble character and always dealt in a very polite manner with everyone. Even before joining the political party; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. In 2011 he was a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for nine years, yes you've it just right a Sikh serving in JIT. So perhaps it's not the "Conservative parties" or the clerics but some other  more serious and heinous mindsets and agendas that deprive us of such gems. Yes there's still more to it, he was also the member of Tehsil council, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board. Soran Singh also hosted program "Za Hum Pakistani Yam" (Main Bhi Pakistan Hoon) " I am also Pakistan" for three and a half years with Khyber News.

What may have hurt Soran Singh's soul could be the thought of how a minority minister's death didn't deserve responsible journalism or the proper evidence providing the names of his assassins. Rather the blame, as always was put on Tehreek i Taliban, TTP, which is the most convenient option when you want to get rid of a matter or don't want it to get special attention or investigation.

Just yesterday on Sunday 24th April, there had been even a protest  by the people belonging to minority community in Peshawar against the assassination of adviser to the chief minister on minorities affairs Samson Jacob and Bishop Elohim Church Amir Pervez Khokar. The protest in front of Peshawar Press Club was organised by Pakistan Minorities Alliance. They demanded the government to conduct the investigation of the murder of Sardar Soran Singh through a military court. They also criticized the government for not taking adequate measures to stop target killings of minorities in the country. They called upon the government to address the sense of alienation with the minorities and provide them proper security.

A protester told TNN that Sardar Soran Singh was not provided adequate security. “Other federal and provincial ministers have many policemen at their disposal, but Soran Singh had no security when he was attacked,” he said.

Another protester said when ministers like Soran Singh had no security then one can easily guess the state of security for common people.

They said that it was not for the first time that a minority member was targeted but earlier to this several of their community members targeted in such a barbaric manner.
He added that earlier to this former Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhutti was killed in Islamabad but no one was arrested, later to this incident two Sikh community members were also killed in Peshawar and Mardan.

Bishop of Elohim Church Amir Pervez Khokar also expressed his anger over the killing of Soran Singh and demanded of the government to ensure security of the life and property of the people.
He said that they will continue their protest movement until the arrest of the perpetrators.

Cricketer-turned-politician Khan, whose PTI party rules the restive KP, asked his government to set up an inquiry commission to probe the assassination.

Since he was too busy, shamelessly preparing for the "Birthday Bash" of his party on growing 20 years old. He didn't think to cease the plan and rather pay a visit at minister's house the first day. Just as he was busy at "Dharna" (Sit-in) last year, when Peshawar attack on Army public took place and he didn't pay his condolences to the parents of dead children. He was bashed in the same way when he did go after a while and accepted being guilty of neglecting his area and people but looks like it was only temporary. Khan seems to never learn from his past mistakes and is in fact  adamant on repeating them time and again. Though he had the audacity to pay a visit on the third day & enter Soran's house for condolences, but got lucky enough to not face the consequences as he did prior. Hope he learns from this at least.

Although Imran khan did say that he was indeed deeply saddened and shaken by the death of a devoted party member, he soon regained all his senses to happily conduct yet another "Jalsa" shamelessly dedicating just two minutes of mourning to the deceased Soran Singh, that too just to avoid criticism, but the water was already above the bridge. People  of Peshawar minority were hurt and showed aggression to his actions in rally.

The worst part from starting this write up to the ending is that, I still cannot find on the big computer screen lit up in front of me, even a single article or a news package based on his services to this country or what a gem of a person he was. That's perhaps because we have too many more important news in the form of humdrum Jalsa routine from dawn till dusk and the joy we derive out of such wasteful celebrations is superior in the run down to the emotional mushy gushy  "minority killings".

Oh wait, we cannot even label it as a minority killing, since he was a minister and a country man but just because he wasn't mourned as any other minister would have been doesn't mean we will give it a different color.