Non-Muslims In Northwest Pakistan Dislocated By Taliban

While the press has focused extensively on demands of Islamists in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province for the institution of Sharia law (see prior posting), less attention has been given to the plight of non-Muslim minority religions in the area. Dawn, however, reported yesterday on the visit of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti to 128 displaced Sikh families who have taken refuge Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the town of Hasan Abdal. Addressing a press conference, Bhatti said: "The present government believes in the principles of tolerance, human equality and peaceful co-existence." He condemned the demand by local Taliban elements that non-Muslim minorities pay a Jizya (tax), and announced a relief package for non-Muslim families who have been dislocated in Swat, Buner and Orakzai Agency.