Gurpurb: Pak issues 3K visas to Sikh pilgrims

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/amritsar, Nov 12

The Pakistan High Commission has issued around 3,000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

During their stay in Pakistan from November 17 to 26, the pilgrims will pay obeisance at different gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, said a release.

Reopen corridor on guru’s anniv: SGPC

• SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur has written letters to PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and EAM S Jaishankar demanding reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor
• She said the Prakash Purb was being celebrated on November 19 and the corridor should be opened on this occasion

Thousands of pilgrims living in other countries, too, will visit Pakistan to attend the event. “The issuance of maximum number of pilgrimage visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines in Pakistan,” said the release.

The announcement indicates the gulf between the two foreign offices. On Thursday, while being non-committal about the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said the government would allow 1,500 pilgrims to visit Pakistan as per the 1974 protocol. A day later, the Pakistan side announced double the number of visas.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Embassy has issued visas to 855 pilgrims who had applied through the SGPC to visit Pakistan, rejecting 191 applications. SGPC official Harbhajan Singh Wakta said 1,046 passports were sent for procuring visas.