The Sikh community living in Orakzai Agency on Wednesday conceded to Taliban demand to pay them jizia -- tax levied on non-Muslims living under Islamic rule -- and paid Rs 20 million to Taliban in return for 'protection'.
Officials told Daily Times that the Taliban also released Sikh leader Sardar Saiwang Singh and vacated the community's houses after the Sikhs accepted the Taliban demand.
The officials said the Taliban announced that the Sikhs were now free to live anywhere in the agency.
They also announced protection for the Sikh community, saying that no one would harm them after they paid jizia. Sikhs who had left the agency would now return to their houses and resume their business in the agency, the officials said.
|