Baldev Kumar

In 2016, following the assassination of Soran Singh, Baldev was accused of involvement in the murder and arrested. He remained in custody for two years before being acquitted in April 2018 by an anti-terrorism court for lack of evidence.^[1] According to the victim's family, the acquittal was challenged in the Peshawar High Court in June 2018.^[2]

In September 2019, Baldev travelled to India and sought political asylum, stating at a press conference in Khanna, Ludhiana that Pakistan was an "unsafe country" and that "minorities are not safe in Pakistan."^[3] His brother countered his claims, stating there was no threat to minorities and expressing suspicion that Baldev may have been coerced into issuing the statement.^[3] Meanwhile, the son of slain PTI minority lawmaker,^[4][2] alleged that Baldev had fled to India to avoid conviction for his father's murder in a case pending before the Peshawar High Court.^[2]