Mastan Singh is first elected PSGPC chief

[10th regiment]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_10...02000000000.htm

Backed by radical Sikh forces, Mastan Singh was today unanimously elected as the first president of newly restructured Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) at its Nankana Sahib headquarters.

Belonging to a family which migrated from Afghanistan, Mastan Singh is said to enjoy the blessings of Khalistani ideologue Ganga Singh Dhillon. He has replaced Sindhi Sikh Sham Singh who was continuing as co-chairman of PSGPC ever since its inception in April 1999. A 10-member Executive Committee, which elected Mastan Singh, has made Bishen Singh as vice-president of the PSGPC.

With this election, the Pakistan government’s commitment to restructure the PSGPC and allow its Executive to freely handle Sikh shrines on the lines of SGPC stands fulfilled.

Mastan Singh, who took over the reins of the PSGPC soon after his election, is a leading construction contractor of Nankana Sahib. He also runs a Khalsa School in his hometown. His opponents had recently tried to defame him by raising the point that despite being a baptised Sikh, Mastan Singh owned a licence to consume and store liquor.

Asked to comment on the development, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said that there was no question of according recognition to the PSGPC since it had “miserably failed” to restore ‘maryada’ in Sikh holy places in Pakistan during the last 15 years. She said that the matter would be discussed at the coming SGPC General House meeting.

The PSGPC would continue to work under the Waqf Board, but the Board cha

irman would no more act as head of the Sikh body there as was the case in the past.

PSGPC Executive Committee includes Mastan Singh, Rawel Singh and Bishen Singh from Punjab province; Tara Singh, Mahesh Singh and Sham Singh from Sindh; Satnam Singh from Baluchistan and Sujan Singh from Suba Sarhad.

PSGPC Executive is also likely to announce some changes in the 15-member advisory panel in which representation has also been given to some foreign Sikhs. Among Indians, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti’s names figure on the panel. The panel also has American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president Dr Pritpal Singh, Nankana Sahib Foundation president Ganga Singh Dhillon, UK-based Dal Khalsa leader Kesar Singh Mand and UK-based Babbar Khalsa International leader Joga Singh as its members.

Besides, five Pakistan Parliamentarians form the liaison committee of the PSGPC to co-ordinate with the government.