Sikh caretaker couple murdered after gunmen storm gurdwara in Pakistan

Peshawar, Pakistan – On 17 June, a Sikh caretaker couple was shot dead inside a gurdwara in Mardan city, located in Pakistan’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to Mardan District Police Officer Masood Ahmed, unidentified assailants entered the gurdwara and opened fire. The victims were identified as caretaker Jagannath and his wife, Asma Wanti. The motive behind the killings has not yet been established.

🚨 A Sikh husband and wife, serving as sevadars, were murdered after intruders entered a Gurdwara in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Why are Khalistani supporters in India, Canada, and Pakistan silent on this brutal killing of Sikhs?

Selective outrage raises serious questions.#Sikhs… pic.twitter.com/Fhi5KLWYSJ

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) June 18, 2026

Suresh Kumar, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly, has demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and has given the Police a 24-hour deadline to show progress in the investigation. Condemning the attack, Kumar said that it was deeply alarming that such an incident could occur despite the deployment of security personnel and Police in the area. He called for a transparent and impartial inquiry into all aspects of the case.

He alleged that the digital video recorder (DVR) had been removed negligently, raising serious questions about the preservation of evidence and the transparency of the investigation.

Protests to be held in Peshawar and Islamabad if no progress is made

Suresh Kumar warned that if the suspects are not arrested within 24 hours, or if there is no significant progress in the investigation, peaceful demonstrations will be held in Mardan, Peshawar and Islamabad.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami strongly condemned the incident. Dhami stated that entering a sacred religious site such as a gurdwara and murdering innocent people was a crime against humanity. He added that the incident had raised serious concerns not only within the Sikh community but also about the safety of minority communities in Pakistan.