1,800 Indian pilgrims in Pak for Guru Nanak birth anniversary

M Zulqernain
Lahore, Nov 1 (PTI) Over 1,800 Indian pilgrims have
crossed over to Pakistan to join Guru Nanak's birth
anniversary celebrations despite an advisory issued by India
against visiting this country in view of the deteriorating
security situation.
Some 1,800 Sikh pilgrims from India arrived here
yesterday in special trains and after completing immigration
procedures left for Gurdwara Janamsthan at Nankana Sahib, the
birthplace of Guru Nanak, where a three-day festival will
begin tomorrow.
Fraz Abbas, Deputy Director of Pakistan's Evacuee Trust
Property Board (ETPB), expressed satisfaction at the arrival
of such a large number of Indian pilgrims in testing times.
Earlier, Pakistani authorities persuaded their Indian
counterparts to allow special trains to cross the border to
transport Sikhs who wished to participate in the celebrations
despite the advisory against visiting Pakistan.
Abbas said the Indian Railways had earlier refused to
allow Pakistan's special trains to go to Amritsar to transport
the pilgrims.
"On the request of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the
Indian High Commission in Islamabad persuaded its government
and got the issue sorted out," Abbas told PTI.
ETPB Chairman Asif Hashmi and other officials greeted
the pilgrims at the Wagah border.
Jageer Singh, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara
Prabhandak Committee, told reporters at Wagah that he was
satisfied with the security arrangements.
"Though the law and order situation in Pakistan is not
ideal, we are not afraid of coming here no matter what happens
because this place is very sacred for us," he said.
The ETPB, which maintains shrines of minority
communities and arranges visits by foreign pilgrims, has put
in place strict security measures in the wake of a series of
terrorist attacks across Pakistan.
The paramilitary Pakistan Rangers have been deployed for
the security of the pilgrims.
Senior officials of the Indian High Commission have also
been sent to Lahore to oversee arrangements for the yatris.
The Indian government had on Tuesday advised pilgrims
against visiting Pakistan in view of the deteriorating
security situation.
"The government of India is of the view that it is not
advisable for Indian pilgrims to visit Pakistan in the
prevailing situation when frequent terrorist attacks are
taking place in Punjab province... where all gurdwaras are
situated," said a statement from the home ministry. PTI MZ
DDC