By Shahabullah Khan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (TSAT) - Two people belonging to the Sikh community were killed by unknown gunmen in northwestern Peshawar city on Sunday, officials said.

The incident occurred in Sarband area of the city where the assailants opened fire on them inside their shops, Peshawar Capital City Police Office Ijaz Khan said in a statement. 

Both were running their spice shops in the area. 

Soon after the attack police launched a search operation in the area to apprehend the culprits. 

Later, Sikh and Muslim communities blocked the road near the Peshawar Press Club and demanded the government to take immediate action and arrest the killers. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the attack and assured the Sikh community that the government will arrest the killers and will deal with iron hands.

“Strongly condemn the killing of our Sikh citizens in Peshawar, KP. Pakistan belongs to all its people. My most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families” Sharif tweeted.

He also ordered a high-level inquiry to ascertain facts and said the killers will be arrested and meted out exemplary punishment. 

Last year in October, a Sikh was killed and Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Daesh currently has a strong foot in Afghanistan and carried out such attacks against the minorities in both countries to spread fear and show that Pakistan and Afghanistan are not safe for minorities.

However, the terror group so far failed in its attempts as local Muslims and the government in Pakistan always stood behind the minorities and protected them and their religous sites from any attack in the past as well.