Manohar Parrikar's statement on Pakistan deplored

Lahore, Sep 1 Members of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after the upkeep of Sikh and Hindu shrines in Pakistan, on Wednesday held a meeting here and condemned the recent statement made by Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that ''going to Pakistan is like going to hell''.

The ETPB asked the Indian Minister to apologise and withdraw the statement as they feel it was an insult to them.

The meeting was held under chairmanship of Sardar Tar Singh and Siddiqul Farooq, who told the meeting that they will ask Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to pass a resolution in Punjab Assembly against the Minister's statement.

The ETPB is a key Pakistani Government Department which administers evacuee properties attached to educational, charitable or religious trusts left behind by Hindus and Sikhs who migrated to India after Partition. It also maintain and upkeep places of worship belonging to Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan.

IANS