Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee

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The Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) was formed on April 11, 1999, to mark the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa Panth by the then President of Pakistan. The appointment of Lieut-Gen Javed Nasir, a former chief of the ISI, as founder chairman of the PGPC had infuriated the SGPC. When the SGPC refused to send jathas in protest against the formation of the PGPC, the Government of Pakistan inserted the word ‘Sikh.’ Thus, it was re-christened as the PSGPC (Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee).

The office of the PSGPC opened in the main building of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, but it closed after a year. The five-member committee was disbanded and Sham Singh was made co-chairman of the PSGPC. Notwithstanding tall claims, Pakistan’s aukaf board failed to finalise the constitution of the PSGPC even after four years of its formation. Elections have never been held to elect the body in a democratic way. The SGPC and some of the founder members of the PSGPC have leveled charges that Sham Singh was originally a Muslim who had converted to Sikhism. This charge was, however, strongly refuted by him. The background of Sham Singh, who is well-versed in Gurbani, thus continues to remain shrouded in mystery.

See also