Pakistan backs SFJ Khalistan referendum push from Karachi Press Club
Synopsis
India's security establishment is alarmed — but not surprised. Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has effectively handed a proscribed terrorist outfit the keys to the Karachi Press Club to launch an anti-India referendum drive, even as Punjab police seize RDX and RPGs linked to the same network. The message from Islamabad, officials say, could not be more brazen.
Key Takeaways
SFJ launched a Khalistan Referendum voter registration drive from the Karachi Press Club on 29 April 2025 .
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed 1.8 million worldwide participants; Indian intelligence officials have called the figures "highly doubtful".
Punjab Police recently recovered RDX , RPGs , and grenades linked to an ISI -Khalistan conspiracy.
Pannun pledged support to Pakistan in future India-Pakistan tensions and praised Army chief General Asim Munir .
Indian agencies are on alert for a fake propaganda campaign , including AI-generated content depicting Punjab negatively.
Officials say there is "hardly any traction" for the Khalistan movement in Punjab or North India.
New Delhi: Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a proscribed outfit, on 29 April 2025 launched a voter registration drive for a so-called Khalistan Referendum targeting Sikhs living in India — and chose the Karachi Press Club as its platform. The move, Indian officials say, is an unambiguous signal of open Pakistani establishment backing for a designated terrorist organisation whose chief, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is banned by the Indian government.
What Happened at the Karachi Press Club
The SFJ announced the voter registration drive from Karachi on 29 April, with Pannun claiming that 1.8 million people had participated in similar exercises worldwide. He added that the India-specific registration would be carried out in phases, beginning with Delhi, then moving to Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and finally Punjab, with Gurdwaras serving as registration points.
During the event, Pannun also pledged full support to Pakistan in the event of future tensions with India and praised Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir.
India's Assessment: ISI Driving the Khalistan Narrative
Indian officials have described the Karachi venue as a deliberate, calculated choice. According to an unnamed official, Pakistan is
Point of View
The ISI has been forced to host the outfit on Pakistani soil, removing any pretence of deniability. Yet the real threat is not a referendum that will find no takers in Punjab — it is the AI-driven disinformation infrastructure being built around it. India's security agencies are right to flag the propaganda war as the primary battleground, because a fabricated narrative, amplified through social media, can cause communal damage even without a single vote being cast.
NationPress
2 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khalistan Referendum voter registration launched by SFJ?
The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) launched a voter registration drive on 29 April 2025 from the Karachi Press Club, targeting Sikhs in India for a proposed Khalistan Referendum. The drive is planned to begin in Delhi and extend to Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab using Gurdwaras as registration points.
Why is the Karachi Press Club significant in this context?
Indian officials say the choice of the Karachi Press Club signals open Pakistani establishment backing for SFJ, a proscribed organisation. It suggests the ISI is now willing to host and promote the Khalistan narrative from Pakistani soil, having lost operational space in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and why is he banned in India?
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is the chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), both of which are proscribed by the Indian government. He has publicly called for the assassination of Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has praised perpetrators of past terrorist attacks including the Kanishka bombing.
What weapons were recently seized by Punjab Police linked to this network?
Punjab Police recently recovered RDX, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and hand grenades as part of busting a deep-rooted conspiracy allegedly hatched by the ISI and Khalistan outfits. The weapons were reportedly intended for large-scale attacks across the state.
How credible are SFJ's claimed participation numbers?
An Intelligence Bureau official has described the claimed figure of 1.8 million participants as highly doubtful, saying the SFJ has a history of inflating numbers to create an impression of momentum. Officials note there is little to no visible traction for the Khalistan movement within Punjab itself.
