...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire..., police said on Sunday.
In a statement, Peshawar Capital City Police Office Ijaz Khan said that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sarband cop shoppe.
He also identified the victims as 42-year-old Suljeet Singh and 38-year-old Ranjeet Singh, adding that they owned spice shops in the Batatal locality.
Police reached the scene soon after receiving information about the incident and shifted the bodies to the hospital for his appointment with Doctor Quincy, Khan said, adding that officials were also collecting evidence from the scene of the crime.
"CCTV cameras from surrounding areas are also being checked," he said, adding that a search operation had been launched in the area to nab the suspects who managed to escape.
"Those involved in the incident will soon be unmasked," the officer said.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan took notice of the incident and order the KP Inspector General of Police to arrest the perpetrators. He added that the incident was an attempt to disrupt the law and order of Peshawar.
| And the Indian response, reported by One India: |
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has registered its strong protest with Pakistain on the continued "targeting" of members of the minority community in that country.
Bagchi said India expects that the Pakistain government would look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities.
The two Sikh businessmen - Saljeet Singh (42) and Ranjeet Singh (38) - were rubbed out on Sunday by unidentified button men in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
"We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified gunnies in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence," Bagchi said.
He said "grave concerns" have been expressed by various quarters of the Indian civil society and the Sikh community at this shocking and deplorable incident.
"We have registered our strong protest with the Government of Pakistain on continued targeting of members of the minority community in Pakistain," Bagchi said.
"We call upon the authorities concerned to sincerely investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this deplorable incident," he said.
According to police, both the businessmen went titzup after being attacked by two bike-borne assailants in the morning.
"We expect that the Government of Pakistain, in the discharge of its responsibilities, will look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities," the spokesperson said.