Peshawar exempts Sikh motorcyclists from wearing helmets
Pakistan’s Sikh community welcomes government’s move, police says it will cooperate with minority communities
Peshawar: The Sikh community in Peshawar city has been exempted from wearing helmets while riding motorcycles, due to their religious headdress.
The issue was raised in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly by minority member Sardar Ranjeet Singh who called for an exception on helmet wearing for turbaned Sikh motorcyclists, after which the Peshawar Traffic Police allowed it.
Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, Kashif Zulfiqar, said the “police would completely cooperate with minority communities” and respect their religious sentiments.
Pakistan’s Sikh community has welcomed the government’s announcement. Talking to Gulf News, former Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Ramesh Singh Arora, said: “The exemption is a positive move by the KP government which demonstrates deep respect for the traditions of the Sikh community and religious freedom for minorities in Pakistan.”
Explaining the reason for the helmet exception request, member of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak (management) Committee Ramesh Singh said: “The turban is an essential part of the Sikh faith and identity, that forbids us to wear anything else on the head.” He added that exemptions for Sikhs have been successfully implemented in Canada, India and other countries.
Pakistan is estimated to be home to over 20,000 Sikhs, although the real figure is unknown. Most of them reside in Peshawar city, where the helmet exception has been announced.