Pakistan’s new govt again appoints a Muslim to look after Sikh, Hindu religious places

AMRITSAR: Once again ignoring the sentiments of religious minorities of Pakistan especially Sikhs and Hindu’s Pakistan’s new government led by

Shehbaz Sharif

has replaced the Chairman of Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (

ETPB

), Dr. Aamer

Ahmad

with former Chairman of Pakistan Railways Habib-ur-Rehman Gilani after Ahmad’s retirement on Saturday.

Earlier Pakistan government had appointed a Muslim as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Project Management Unit (PMU), a body under ETPB to look after the management of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartapur Sahib, and

Kartapur Corridor

which was highly objected to by Sikh bodies as well as the Indian government.

Notably, the ETPB was established in 1960 with its headquarters in Lahore to look after the evacuee properties including Sikh and Hindu religious places, lands etc. which were left over by the Sikh and Hindus who migrated to India during the partition in 1947-48. ETPB functions under Act (Management & Disposal) No.XIII of 1975 for management and disposal of ET Property ,Land.

A retired officer from Pakistan Administrative Service in 2019, Dr. Aamer Ahamd was on contract for 3 years at the post of Chairman, ETPB.

While refusing to go into any kind of controversy, Ahmad, told TOI over the phone on Saturday “ I am relieved that I am bowing out as a satisfied person who has endeavored to fulfill my official, moral and religious obligations with a satisfied ego” adding that during his tenure, ETPB had achieved and done a lot.

In past, the ETPB had appointed a Muslim 9 member team led by CEO

Mohammad Tariq Khan

which was objected to by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)

After receiving representation from various Sikh bodies who had expressed grave concern over the appointment of a Muslim as CEO of PMU, the MEA had also summoned the then Pakistan High Commission’s Chargé d'Affaires and lodged a strong protest against transferring of the management and maintenance of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib.

Javed Nasir, former chief of Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency ISI had also been the Chairman of ETPB.