Pakistani Sikh pilgrims bound for Hemkund Sahib stopped at airport, denied immigration clearance
PTC News Desk: As many as 104 Sikh pilgrims travelling from Pakistan to visit Sikh religious shrines in India were stopped at Faisalabad Airport for nearly 12 hours. The pilgrims claimed that they had been issued Indian visas by the Indian Embassy in Islamabad. However, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) did not allow them to proceed beyond the airport.
Immigration officials reportedly asked the pilgrims to produce No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Pakistan government, the Home Department and the Foreign Affairs Department.
According to the pilgrims, they had initially planned to travel to India through the Wagah-Attari border but were not given permission to use the land route. They then decided to travel by air and purchased expensive flight tickets before reaching Faisalabad Airport on time.
The pilgrims questioned why they were not informed about the requirement for an NOC earlier and why they were allowed to purchase flight tickets if such permission was mandatory.
The pilgrims said they had planned to enter India through the Wagah-Attari border but were denied permission to travel by road. Following the decision, they made arrangements to travel by air and bought expensive tickets.
A similar case had earlier been reported in which Pakistani Sikh pilgrims were not allowed to travel to India through the Wagah-Attari route. Former Rajya Sabha MP and Padma Bhushan awardee Tarlochan Singh had written to the Pakistan High Commissioner, urging him to reopen the land route for Sikh pilgrims.
The 104 pilgrims were scheduled to visit Shri Hemkunt Sahib, Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, historic gurdwaras in Delhi and other major Sikh religious shrines in Punjab.
Their main purpose was to undertake a religious pilgrimage. The pilgrims said they had obtained Indian visas specifically for this purpose and had made all the necessary travel arrangements.
Jatha leaders seek India's intervention
The pilgrims have appealed to Sikh leaders in India to raise the matter with the Pakistan government and help secure permission for them to travel to India.
They have sought intervention from Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Harmeet Singh Kalka.
Official response on NOC awaited
The main question in the matter is under what rules Pakistani immigration authorities sought NOCs from the pilgrims despite them holding valid Indian visas.
The pilgrims said they were not informed in advance about any requirement for additional permission.
Pakistan has not yet provided a detailed explanation for seeking the NOCs in this particular case.
- PTC NEWS
