With no extradition treaty in place, Sarbjit’s return unlikely

The return of Sarbjit Kaur, who married a Pakistan national after deserting the Sikh jatha midway during the “parkash purb” of Guru Nanak Dev seems a distant possibility as India and Pakistan do not have an extradition treaty.

Confirming this, legal adviser to the SGPC Amanbir Singh Siali stated that she could not return to her country as both neighbours, who were on the brink of a full-scale war months ago do not have an extradition treaty.

On November 18, Akal Takht officiating jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj, following an assurance by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, had announced that Sarbjit would soon return to her country.

The SGPC will give representations to both India and Pakistan governments to probe the “lapses” that occurred in the case of Sarbjit Kaur.

Siali said the Indian Government should answer how she was issued both passport and permission to visit Pakistan when three cases were already filed against her.

A communiqué to the Pakistan government will be handed over to its embassy in Delhi, pointing out no action against her for violating visa norms as she had obtained it for the sole purpose of visiting Sikh shrines on the holy occasion. Instead, the Pakistan judiciary gave her a judicial stay for overstaying in Pakistan, he confirmed.