In Karachi, Sikhs protest against 'desecration' of Guru Granth Sahib

More than two dozen Pakistani Sikhs, along with Hindus and Muslims, here on Sunday staged a protest against alleged desecration of Sikh holy book 'Guru Granth Sahib' at a village in Faridkot district of Punjab in India.

Holding banner and placards, the protesters gathered outside the Karachi Press Club and raised slogans. The main banner read: "We condemn desecration of our holy book and police's brutality against peaceful Sikh protesters in India's Punjab. Provide protection to Sikh and Muslims in India."

"The minorities living in Pakistan and all Pakistanis, including Muslims, Sikh, Christians, strongly condemn the incident. We demand the United Nations and its UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to play their role in stopping the violence against the Sikhs in Indian Punjab," said Sardar Ramesh Singh, head of Pakistan Sikh Council.

"No religion allows disrespect of sacred things. We are all one. The message should go to the world that there are no majority-minority differences in Pakistan," said Mohammad Ehsan Siddqui, General Secretary of Inter-faith Harmony and Peace.

The incident came to light after a woman who had gone to a gurdwara to offer prayers and saw half torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib and informed police.

As soon as the incident came to light local residents came out on the streets carrying swords and other weapons and staged sit-ins blocking several roads. The protesters also raised slogans and expressed unhappiness at the alleged apathy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal-led state government.

Police personnel were deployed around the gurdwara to prevent any untoward incidents.

However, violence broke out at Kotkapura in Punjab on Wednesday, after Sikh protesters clash with police, who reportedly resorted to baton charge and firing to disperse the agitators.

Sikh minority makes up two percent of India's population of 1.2 billion.