On 18 Apr, Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Panjab province Maryam Nawaz met a group of Sikh pilgrims, mostly from India, and reminded the gathering at the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara that her father Nawaz Sharif said the country should not fight with its neighbors. Nawaz, as part of the first official state-level Vaisakhi celebrations, welcomed some 2,400 Sikhs who are currently visiting Pakistan and emphasized Panjabiyat as being a bridge to improve relations between India and Pakistan. ‘When I became the chief minister, I received greetings from Panjabi brothers from across the border too. I am a Pakistani, but I am a Panjabi too,” she said. ‘We wish to speak Panjabi here like the people of Indian Panjab. My grandfather, Mian Sharif, is from Jati Umra, Amritsar. When a Panjabi Indian brought soil of Jati Umra, I placed it on his grave.’ Nawaz said she made Ramesh Singh Arora the first Sikh minister in her govt. (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 11, Story 5). Meanwhile, Arora, who is also the president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), is embroiled in a controversy after purchasing three luxury vehicles for around $179K. The money is alleged to have been taken from PSGPC accounts. A leader of PSGPC, on condition of anonymity, said two transactions — one of $122K and second of $57K — were carried out from PSGPC’s account for the purchase of cars. He said a third transaction of around $64K was also carried out in the recent past. Arora acknowledged the purchase of three vehicles, but denied they were for personal use. While these allegations are yet to be established, Pakistan Gurdwaras are languishing for lack of care and upkeep.
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