On Eid, Pak refuses entry to ‘kirtani jatha’

Tribune News Service

Attari, August 22

The Pakistan Rangers exchanged sweets with the BSFpersonnel on the Attari-Wagah border on Eid, but did not let a “kirtani jatha” to step on their territory, allegedly for want of official formalities.

A six-member “kirtani jatha”, reportedly sponsored by the SGPC, had crossed the Attari stoppage after undergoing the standard immigration and customs procedure this morning. However, they were sent back after a few hours as the Pakistan authorities denied them access despite their visa having validity for the day.

The Indian authorities accepted them back and told them to get their documents updated to gain entry to Pakistan again.

A jatha member said their documents were valid from August 6 to 22 and it was cleared by the Indian officials. They resented that they would again have to go to New Delhi to get the documents renewed.

“After immigration clearance, we crossed over the border as we were to perform at a function. But the Pakistan officials declined to entertain us stating that further formalities would take a few more hours and by that time the visas could lapse. So, we were told to return,” he said.

Confirming the development, immigration official Manjit Singh said it was the sole discretion of the Pakistani immigration authorities to allow access.

“Unlike us, the Pakistani authorities are more rigid when it comes to allowing Indians on their territory. Their documents were in order, so we allowed them to cross over,” he said.