AMRITSAR: Performing voluntary shoe cleaning and langar service in Gurdwara’s in India has cost his job to Pakistan’s Deputy Attorney General Khurshid Khan whom , according to reports, Pakistan government sacked on Thursday and replaced him by Farooq Sheikh.

Khan’s removal from the post that too due to his voluntary and noble act of ‘kar sewa’ has irked the heads of religious bodies here who have sought from Pakistan government to reconsider on its decision to set an example of religious interfaith by reinstating Khan.

“Golden Temple is open for people of all castes and anyone could perform voluntary physical service in cleaning, washing or cooking which is a noble task and preached by Guru’s” said Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh while talking to TOI on Thursday. He said by performing karsewa Khan had just followed the Guru’s preaching and there was nothing wrong. He said Pakistan government should reconsider its decision and reinstate Khan at his post.

Earlier Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association had served show cause notice to Khan seeking explanation for performing shoe service during his visit to Golden Temple and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, Delhi in March this year.

Sikh’s apex body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar said cleaning shoes or voluntary service in langar was an act of humility and there was nothing wrong in it. He said people from far flung places arrives at Golden Temple and other Gurdwara’s to perform karsewa and someone being punished for that was unheard. He also appealed to Pakistan government to not punish Khan for selfless ser vice in India.

“This is unbelievable that Pakistan government could sack Khan just because he performed selfless service in Guru Ghar” said former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Harvinder Singh Sarna. He said he was of view that Pakistan government took decision under pressure of fundamentalists and should review it as Khan’s act had only promoted religious interfaith.