Jaziya Condemned

Today the National Assebly (Assembly) of Pakistan, assured the house it will not allow the Taliban to collect Islamic tax or Jaziya from minorities in Buner and Orakzai agency.

Federal Minister for minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, told the National Assembly that the government condemns the harassment of Sikh families by Taliban militants in Buner and Orakzai tribal agency.

Raising the issue of harassment of minorities on a point of order, the legislators told the House that Taliban had demanded Rs5 million from a Sikh family in Buner.

Sources say leaders of Sikh community have written letters to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and prime Minister Yousaf raza Gillani, apprising them of their plight.

The National Assembly was later adjourned to meet again on Monday to discuss President Asif Zardari’s address to the parliament.

Source: Dawn News, November 11, 2009