Pakistan arrests Hindu leader in murder of Sikh politician

Peshawar: A district-level Hindu leader of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was arrested on Sunday in connection with the killing of a prominent Sikh politician in the country's restive northwest region, a day after Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Baldev Kumar, a Swat district councilor and minority leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested by the law enforcement agencies for his alleged role in the murder of doctor Sardar Sooran Singh, also of the same party.

52-year-old Singh was the Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Minority Affairs.

The Pakistani Taliban yesterday claimed responsibility for the assassination of Singh who was shot dead on Friday.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a statement said that sharp shooter of Special Task Force of TTP "successfully" targeted Sardar Sooran Singh in his home district Buner.

Deputy Inspector General Malakand Division Azad Khan while confirming the arrest of Kumar, said that he would give the details about the arrest in a press conference here tomorrow.

After the arrest, security forces took Kumar to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Yesterday, the last rites of Singh were held in Buner district. A large number of people from PTI and other political parties' activists attended the funeral.

Singh's murder was widely condemned by fellow politicians and rights activists.

Cricketer-turned-politician Khan, whose PTI party rules the restive northwestern province, asked his government to set up an inquiry commission to probe the assassination.

Singh was a doctor, TV anchor and politician. Before joining PTI in 2011, Singh was a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan for nine years.

He was also member of Tehsil council, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board.