Ahead of Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day, SGPC bats for Pak visas to Sikh pilgrims

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary Partap Singh on Monday said they hoped that the Centre would allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan in June to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The statement came days after India downgraded its ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

The Centre had also ordered the closure of the integrated check-post at the Attari-Wagah crossing between the two countries.

However, the Kartarpur Corridor remains open, with pilgrims continuing to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

The SGPC secretary said around 350 applications, along with the requisite documents, were submitted by them to the Centre for visas to Pakistan before the Pahalgam terror attack.

He said a communication was still awaited from the Indian and Pakistan authorities. “We are optimistic that visas would be granted keeping in view the Pakistan authorities’ declaration that no restrictions would be imposed the Sikh pilgrims,” he said.