Pak Sikhs give in to Taliban pressure, decide to pay jazia instead of leaving Kyber
June 3rd, 2009 - 12:50 pm ICT by ANI
Landikotal (Pakistan), June 3 (ANI): The Sikh community living in Pakistan’s Khyber Agency has succumbed to Taliban pressure, and have agreed to pay Jazia tax to the ensure safety of their families.
On Monday, the Bara-based Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) had warned non-Muslim communities in Bara, Chora, Karamna, Bazaar Zakhakhel and Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency to pay jazia or leave the agency, The News reports.
Following the warning from the LeI, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians agreed to pay the tax instead of leaving the region, where they have been residing for decades.
According to sources, several jirgas were held to settle the issue of jazia. Finally, a decision was taken at a jirga attended by the leaders and elders of the Sikh, Hindu and Christian communities in Tirah Valley.
There minority communities have agreed to pay 1,000 rupees per head annually.
Only women, children and handicapped persons have been exempted from paying this tax. (ANI)
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Tags: 1 000 rupees, bazaar, chora, christian communities, christians, decades, elders, hindu, hindus, islam, jirga, june 3, khyber agency, minority communities, muslim communities, pakistan, sikh community, sikhs, taliban, tirah