Islamabad, Dec 3 (LatestNewsX) – Gopal Singh Chawla, a Khalistan supporter and former head of the dissolved Punjabi Sikh Sangat (PSS), has openly accused Pakistani authorities and intelligence services of harassing him. According to a report released on Wednesday, he claims he has been kept in long‑term detention and is the target of “fabricated” accusations.
In newly released audio clips, Chawla says he has been under house arrest for the past two and a half years. He insists he is confined to a “safe and protected” location and is being fed a false story that he faces an imminent threat to his life from India.
A piece in Khalsa Vox notes that Pakistani officials have repeatedly prohibited Chawla from living with his family. During this period, he has only managed a handful of brief meetings with his wife and children, most of them held at Gurdwara Sri Nankana Sahib in Punjab.
Chawla further alleges that more than 300 gurdwaras in Pakistan are now controlled by land mafias. He accuses these groups of neglecting the religious sites, illegally selling or leasing gurdwara property, and undermining Sikh rights and heritage, according to the report.
He also claims that agency officials warned him of supposed threats from Afghanistan, but he dismisses those warnings as diversionary tactics. Instead, he says his real safety concerns stem from Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI) and from Ramesh Singh Arora, a prominent Sikh figure in Pakistani politics.
Chawla says his extended confinement at Gurdwara Chowa Sahib (Rohtas) in Punjab has led to severe social isolation, financial hardship, and worsening health. He has appealed to Sikh leaders worldwide to spotlight his situation on international platforms, hoping to protect his personal well‑being and expose what he calls “severe mismanagement of Sikh religious sites in Pakistan.”
In response, the local Sikh Sangat of Sri Nankana Sahib—led by former granthi Mahindra Pal Singh—released a video urging Pakistani authorities and security agencies to ensure Chawla’s safety and well‑being.
Earlier on Monday, a UK‑based newspaper, Asian Lite, reported that the deteriorating conditions of Sikhs in Pakistan reflect a continued erosion of religious freedom. The paper highlighted incidents of disappearances, forced conversions, and targeted killings, underscoring a fragile promise of equality in the country’s Constitution.
“It’s a reality where justice is rare and prejudice unchecked,” the Asian Lite piece added. “Without urgent steps to protect minority rights, the Sikh community’s survival in Pakistan remains at grave risk, and the nation’s commitment to pluralism continues to erode.”
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