No visa restriction for India’s Sikhs: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has said that despite the visa restriction for Indian nationals as a reciprocal step by Islamabad, India’s Sikh community can get Pakistan’s visa in any number and any time so that they could visit their holy shrines.

To a query, acting spokesman for the Foreign Office and Additional Foreign Secretary Nabeel Munir explained Pakistan’s position in this regard. He told The News on Saturday that Pakistan has not closed down Kartarpur corridor for a single moment since India clamped restriction on the movement between the two countries.

“It is India that has blocked the entry for Kartarpur Sahib and incidentally no visa is required by Indian Sikhs from Pakistan for that,” the acting spokesman said.

He made it clear that India has closed all entry points with Pakistan border, however, Sikhs could come to Pakistan via Dubai or any other hub.

Meanwhile, sources told this scribe that Sikhs have started to come to Lahore in large numbers to attend the anniversary of martyrdom of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has been asked to issue visas for Sikhs liberally for the occasion so that they could come here to attend the anniversary’s rites. The Sikhs coming for Guru Arjan’s martyrdom anniversary would be allowed to visit Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal, Punja Sahib Hasan Abdal, Sachha Soda in Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib which is the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak Sahib, without taking any further permission. The Punjab government has already issued directions that district administrations should provide all facilities to Sikhs keeping in view the harsh weather.