Now, Jazia On Sikhs Of Khyber Agency

[Azaad]

Lashkar-i-Islam, an extremist and militant tribal outfit with links to the Taliban, has imposed jazia (Islamic tax on non-Muslims) on Sikhs living in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan.

The tax has been levied at the rate of Rs 1,000 per person a year. A spokesman of the group said the imposition of the tax was through mutual agreement with the Sikh representatives.

A similar tax was imposed on Sikhs in the trouble Buner by the Taliban in April. It was condemned even by mainstream religious parties and Islamic scholars who maintained that this tax can be levied only by an Islamic government and not by any individual or group.

Constitutional experts said Pakistan's constitution did not permit any discriminatory tax on any community, including minorities.

A decision to impose the tax was taken at a meeting between Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh and a delegation of the Sikh community held in Speen Qabar close to Peshawar.

About 7,000 Sikhs live in the Khyber Agency.