Pak gives Chawla plum post in ETPB

Amritsar: Ignoring India’s objections over including ‘controversial elements’ in the 10-member committee of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Pakistan government has instead awarded Gopal Singh Chawla, the most controversial person, with inclusion in the newly-constituted body of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

According to highly placed sources, Pakistan’s ministry of religious affairs and interfaith harmony issued a notification with regards to the reconstitution of the ETPB.

The 24-member committee has six official and 19 non-official members. Its official members include chairman, additional secretary, secretary (human rights and minorities affairs), secretary (minority affairs department), secretary (auqaf, haj, religious and minority affairs) and secretary (religious affairs and interfaith harmony). Chawla is among the non-official members.

Sources said the Pakistan government revamped the ETPB on April 19, when Khalistani ideologues from the UK, the USA and other countries were camping there. On March 27, Pakistan’s federal minister for information and broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain had announced a 10-member committee comprising Chawla, following which India’s ministry of external affairs has objected to inclusion of ‘controversial elements’ in it.

“By including Chawla in the ETPB committeee, Pakistan is on way to realising our worst fear of using Kartarpur corridor for making Khalistan propaganda and fanning anti-India sentiments,” said sources.