Another militant group imposes jiziya on Pak minorities

Following in the footsteps of the Taliban, an outlawed militant group in Pakistan's restive Khyber tribal region has imposed 'jiziya' 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 yesterday.

Mangal Bagh told the Sikhs that they would be fully protected from any threat if they paid the tax. A 'jirga' or tribal council in Tirah valley, which was attended by leaders and elders of the minority communities, also decided to pay the tax.

Women, children and handicapped persons have been exempted from paying the tax. Thousands of Sikhs, Hindus and Christians live in different parts of Khyber Agency, including Bara, Zakhakhel Bazar and Tirah valley. Dozens of Sikh families fled their homes in Pakistan's Aurakzai tribal region last month after failing to pay 'jiziya' imposed on them by Taliban commander Hakeemullah Mehsud. Most of them have sought shelter at the Panja Sahib gurdwara in Hasanabdal.