Sikh couple shot dead in Pakistan gurdwara, minorities fear rising violence
Synopsis
An elderly Sikh couple was gunned down inside a gurdwara in Mardan on the first day of Muharram — when security deployments should have been at their peak. With over 25 Sikhs killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent years and a Hindu businessman shot dead in Sindh just months earlier, the attack lays bare the compounding vulnerability of Pakistan's religious minorities and the state's repeated failure to protect them.
Key Takeaways
Jagannath Wanti (72) and Asa Wanti (69) were shot dead inside a gurdwara in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 17 June 2025 .
The attack occurred on the first day of Muharram , when heightened security deployments are standard practice across Pakistan.
Mardan's minority population includes approximately 350 Sikhs , 1,300 Hindus , and 7,500 Christians in a district that is over 99.5% Muslim .
Sikh community sources say more than 25 Sikhs have been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent years, mostly in Peshawar.
In April 2025 , Hindu businessman Vishal Kumar was shot dead in Sukkur, Sindh , in a separate targeted attack on a minority community member.
No arrests had been reported as of 19 June 2025 ; provincial legislators and community leaders are demanding swift police action.
An elderly Sikh couple was shot and killed inside a gurdwara in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 17 June 2025, triggering widespread fear among Pakistan's religious minority communities who say they have long been targeted by radical Islamist groups. The killings have drawn sharp condemnation and renewed demands for stronger state protection of minorities.
What Happened in Mardan
Jagannath Wanti (72) and his wife Asa Wanti (69) were inside a gurdwara in Mardan district when unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle opened fire and fled, according to police. The attack occurred on the first day of Muharram — a period during which thousands of police and paramilitary personnel are typically deployed across Pakistan to prevent sectarian violence, raising immediate questions about the security lapse.
Community Voices: 'No Place of Worship Feels Safe'
Sahib Singh, a Sikh elder from Peshawar, described the attack as a 'daylight double homicide' that has 'spread panic among the community.' He called for a transparent, forensic investigation and stronger protections for minorities. 'Sadly, no place of worship feels safe today,' Singh said.
Singh noted that the apparent security failure raises serious questions about policing in Mardan, a district with a population of approximately 2.7 million, of whom more than 99.5 per cent are Muslim. Community leaders estimate that around 350 Sikhs, 1,300 Hindus, and roughly 7,500 Christians reside in Mardan.
A Pattern of Violence Against Minorities in KP
Sikh community sources say more than 25 Sikhs have been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent years, with the majority of attacks reported in Peshawar. According to local media reports, militant groups — including the Pakistani Taliban and affiliates of the so-called Islamic State — have repeatedly attacked minority communities, whom they consider legitimate targets under their extremist interpretations of Islam.
This is not an isolated incident. In April 2025, the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) reported the killing of young Hindu businessman Vishal Kumar, who was shot dead in 'cold blood' in Sukkur, Sindh, in front of bystanders in broad daylight — an attack that, according to VOPM, left the city gripped in fear and heightened insecurity.
Political Reaction and Calls for Accountability
Suresh Kumar, a Hindu member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial legislature, urged police to arrest the perpetrators without delay. The killings have amplified longstanding calls from minority rights groups for the Pakistani state to provide credible security guarantees to its non-Muslim citizens.
What Comes Next
No arrests had been reported as of the time of this report. Pressure is mounting on the Mardan district administration and provincial police to demonstrate accountability. With minority communities in KP already living under sustained threat, rights advocates warn that without swift action, the cycle of targeted violence is unlikely to abate.
Point of View
Hindus, and Christians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The fact that the attack occurred on the first day of Muharram, when security forces are at peak deployment, makes the failure harder to explain away as a resource problem. Pakistan's minority communities number in the hundreds of thousands, yet their political representation and security guarantees remain thin. International attention tends to spike after high-profile attacks and then recede; what is missing is sustained institutional accountability. Until Pakistan establishes independent minority protection mechanisms with enforceable mandates, these killings will continue to be mourned and then forgotten.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims of the Mardan gurdwara attack?
The victims were Jagannath Wanti, 72 , and his wife Asa Wanti, 69 , an elderly Sikh couple who were shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants inside a gurdwara in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 17 June 2025. Police say the attackers fled immediately after opening fire.
Why is the timing of the attack significant?
The attack took place on the first day of Muharram, when Pakistan typically deploys thousands of police and paramilitary personnel to prevent sectarian violence. Sikh community leaders say the killings despite this heightened deployment expose a serious security lapse in Mardan district.
How widespread is violence against Sikhs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Sikh community sources say more than 25 Sikhs have been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent years, with the majority of attacks occurring in Peshawar. Militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State affiliates have reportedly targeted minority communities in the region.
What is the broader situation for minorities in Pakistan?
Pakistan's religious minorities — including Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians — face recurring targeted violence. In April 2025, Hindu businessman Vishal Kumar was shot dead in Sukkur, Sindh, in broad daylight, according to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM). Rights groups say the state has consistently failed to provide adequate protection or ensure accountability.
What action has been demanded following the killings?
Sikh elder Sahib Singh has called for a transparent, forensic investigation and stronger minority protections. Suresh Kumar, a Hindu member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial legislature, has urged police to arrest the perpetrators. No arrests had been confirmed as of 19 June 2025.
