Islamabad: Gurdeep Singh from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party took the oath on Friday as a Senator, becoming the first turban-clad Sikh representative in the upper house of Pakistan’s Parliament.

Singh, from the party of Prime Minister Imran Khan became the first turban-clad Sikh representative from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan’s Senate on March 3. He defeated rival candidates on a minority seat by a huge margin in the election to the upper chamber of Parliament.

Singh secured 103 votes in the House of 145 whereas Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (Fazlur) candidate Ranjeet Singh secured just 25 votes and Asif Bhatti of the Awami National Party received 12.

Forty-seven other Senators also took oath on Friday.

Senator Sayed Muzafar Hussain Shah, who has been nominated as the presiding officer, administered the oath to the members-elect. They have been sworn in as Senators for a term of six years (2021-27).

After taking oath as a member of the Senate, Singh told PTI over phone that he would work for the betterment of the minority community in the country. He was confident that being Senator he would have the opportunity to serve his community in a better way.

Singh, who is in his late forties, also serves as vice president of the PTI’s central minority wing.

He hails from Swat district. He was previously elected as a Minority Councilor from Chakesar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2005.

Singh, belongs to one of the most influential Sikh families in the region.

Following the Partition, his ancestors left India to settle in Chakesar. His father was a known grain trader.

His sister was married to Sardar Soren Singh, who served as special assistant to the chief minister, during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party-led government in the province. Sardar Soren was assassinated in Buner in 2016.

Press Trust of India