Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Religious Affairs and Auqaf, Muhammad Adnan Qadri, has stated that safeguarding the lives, property, and places of worship of minorities is the government's duty, and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard. He made these remarks during a press conference at the District Police Officer's office in Mardan, attended by Member of the Provincial Assembly Zahir Shah Toru, Abdul Salam Afridi, the Secretary of Auqaf, and other senior officials.
Minister Condemns Politicization of Incident
Qadri alleged that certain elements were attempting to politicize the Gurdwara incident that occurred in Mardan, emphasizing that such sensitive matters should not be exploited for political purposes. He specifically referenced a minister from Punjab who visited Mardan and tried to politicize the event, despite similar incidents having taken place in Punjab. Drawing a comparison, Qadri noted that in the Nankana Sahib incident, there were difficulties in registering a First Information Report (FIR), whereas the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government immediately registered a case, arrested the accused, and initiated legal proceedings.
Islam's Teachings on Minority Rights
The minister highlighted that Islam teaches respect and good treatment of minorities, citing several sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that emphasize the rights and protection of minorities. He stressed that a person who unjustly kills a non-Muslim cannot even smell the fragrance of paradise. Qadri praised the police for the timely arrest of the accused involved in the incident and for swiftly tracing the case. He noted that the accused was an employee of the police department, but the weapon used was not an official one; it was purchased privately. He emphasized that the act was committed by an individual and that the police department made no attempt to shield the accused, instead taking action strictly in accordance with the law.
Financial Assistance and Security Measures
Adnan Qadri announced that the Auqaf Department would provide Rs2 million to the affected family and Rs4 million for the welfare of the Gurdwara. He stated that although he could not visit immediately due to the ongoing investigation, elected representatives of the concerned constituency had been continuously monitoring the situation. The minister also revealed that security had been provided to around 200 places of worship belonging to minority communities across the province, with special arrangements made for their protection. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring the protection of minorities and conducting a transparent investigation into the incident.
