06-04-2009, 07:15 AM
<b>Pak militia imposes new jiziya on Hindus</b>
June 4th, 2009
PTI
Islamabad, June 3: Following in the footsteps of the Taliban, an outlawed militant group in Pakistanâs restive Khyber tribal region has imposed âjiziyaâ or religious tax on minorities living in the area, including Sikhs and Hindus.
The Lashkar-e-Islam, which was banned by the federal government a year ago, has directed every non-Muslim from minority communities to pay Rs 1,000 a year as jiziya or leave the Khyber Agency. The warning was issued earlier this week, media reports said.
Members of minority communities, including Sikhs, Hindus and Christians, have agreed to pay the religious tax. The decision to pay up was made at a meeting between Lashkar-e- Islam chief Mangal Bagh and a Sikh delegation on Tuesday. Mangal Bagh told the Sikhs that they would be fully protected from any threat if they paid the tax. A âjirgaâ or tribal council in Tirah valley, which was attended by elders of the minority communities, also decided to pay the tax.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops on Wednesday stormed into two more major towns in the restive Swat valley, but six weeks into the offensive top commanders warn that though big towns could be wrested from Taliban within days, it would take another two to three months to totally defeat them.
June 4th, 2009
PTI
Islamabad, June 3: Following in the footsteps of the Taliban, an outlawed militant group in Pakistanâs restive Khyber tribal region has imposed âjiziyaâ or religious tax on minorities living in the area, including Sikhs and Hindus.
The Lashkar-e-Islam, which was banned by the federal government a year ago, has directed every non-Muslim from minority communities to pay Rs 1,000 a year as jiziya or leave the Khyber Agency. The warning was issued earlier this week, media reports said.
Members of minority communities, including Sikhs, Hindus and Christians, have agreed to pay the religious tax. The decision to pay up was made at a meeting between Lashkar-e- Islam chief Mangal Bagh and a Sikh delegation on Tuesday. Mangal Bagh told the Sikhs that they would be fully protected from any threat if they paid the tax. A âjirgaâ or tribal council in Tirah valley, which was attended by elders of the minority communities, also decided to pay the tax.
Meanwhile, Pakistani troops on Wednesday stormed into two more major towns in the restive Swat valley, but six weeks into the offensive top commanders warn that though big towns could be wrested from Taliban within days, it would take another two to three months to totally defeat them.