Sikh families start moving out of Aurakzai tribal region

Islamabad, May 1 (PTI) Sikh families living in Pakistan's
lawless Aurakzai tribal region have started moving out of the
troubled area after Taliban fighters destroyed their houses
for failing to pay 'jiziya' or a tax levied on non-Muslims.

Sikhs began moving from Aurzakzai Agency, where members
of the minority community have lived for hundreds of years, to
other places after the Taliban destroyed 11 of their houses on
Wednesday night.

The homes were destroyed on the orders of militant
commander Hakeemullah Mehsud after the Sikhs failed to pay Rs
50 million as jiziya.

Militants also captured the shops and homes of 35 Sikh
families and "arrested" two heads of the community in
Ferozkhel area of Aurakzai Agency, media reports from the
region said Friday.

A tribal jirga too asked the Sikhs to pay the jiziya to
the militants, the reports said. Following this, the militants
auctioned the houses and other belongings of Sikhs, who
started moving out of the area.

Hakeemullah Mehsud, the head of the militants in
Aurakzai Agency, is a deputy of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
chief Baitullah Mehsud. He moved into Aurakzai Agency with his
fighters last year.

Though the Sikhs were initially provided protection by
the Manikhel tribe in keeping with Pashtun traditions, the
tribesmen are now fearful of taking on the Taliban.

In October last year, over 100 people were killed in a
suicide attack on a jirga in Aurakzai Agency that was called
to discuss ways to evict the Taliban from the area. PTI