What Pak Foreign Office says on Nankana Sahib incident, read this
Islamabad, January 4, 20202 : As the world is watching closely events at Gurudwarakk Janam Sthan Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan after yesterday’s incident in which a mob pelted stones at Gurdwara Sahib and threatened to rename Sri Nankana Sahib as Ghulam Ali Mustafa and also convert the Gurudwara Sahib into a mosque, a new twist has been given to the incident by the Pakistan Foreign Office.
Pakistan Foreign Office issued a clarification late Friday terming the incident at ‘altercation between two Muslim groups’ and it insisted that it should not be portrayed as a communal issue.
Text of the statement of FO
The provincial authorities in the Punjab province have informed that there was scuffle in the city of Nankana Sahib today, between two Muslim groups. The altercation happened on a minor incident at a tea-stall. The District Administration immediately intervened and arrested the accused, who are now in custody.
Attempts to paint this incident as a communal issue are patently motivated. Most importantly, the Gurdwara remains untouched and undamaged. All insinuations to the contrary, particularly the claims of acts of “desecration and destruction” and desecration of the holy place, are not only false but also mischievous.
The Government of Pakistan remains committed to upholding law and order and providing security and protection to the people, especially the minorities. The opening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a manifestation of Pakistan’s special care extended to the minorities, in line with the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
According to a report in Pakistan daily ‘Dawn’ reported that four customers while taking tea at Zaman’s stall in front of Gurdwara Janam Asthan started a conversation about his nephew, Muhammad Ehsaan, who came into the limelight a few months ago after being accused of forcing a Sikh girl to convert in order to marry her.
Zaman reportedly reacted with anger, which led to a confrontation between two groups. A small crowd gathered to raise slogans. A team of Nankana Sahib police had to intervene briskly to control the situation.
Situation in Nankana normal: minister
Dawn quoting Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri reported that no "unpleasant" incident had taken place in Nankana Sahib and the situation there was normal.
He said some locals had protested against the police for the release of some arrested persons but that they dispersed after the administration held talks with them.
"No loss of life or property took place in the episode," the minister said, adding that government authorities were in contact with the elders of the area.
Qadri said it was wrong for the Indian media to paint a "minor dispute" as a religious conflict. "India is unsuccessfully trying to divert the attention away from minorities who are up in arms there," he added.