25,00 Sikh yatrees reach Pakistan

LAHORE

To attend the 548th birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak, around 25, 00 Sikh yatrees reached Pakistan from India through Wagha Border on Saturday.

The yatrees, who reached by special trains and under strict security early in the morning, were warmly received by Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) officials, including its Chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq, Additional Secretary (Shrines) ETPB Khalid Ali, Deputy Secretary (ETPB) Imran Gondal, Deputy Secretary Faraz Abbas and Pardhan Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) Sardar Tara Singh at the border. The guests were showered with rose petals as they crossed into Pakistan. 

Speaking to the media, Siddiq-ul-Farooq said this time a record number of Sikh yatrees were granted visas and now they had reached Pakistan. He also condemned in strongest words those who were negatively propagating to stop yatrees from visiting Pakistan. The ETPB chairman vowed to provide strict security to the Sikh yatrees on the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 

Farooq also asked the Indian authorities to stop the atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir on innocent unarmed Muslims and treat them respectfully as Pakistan did with Indian yatrees.

Leader of Sikh yatrees’s delegation Sardar Soran Singh said Sikhs had great reverence for Pakistan as well as Muslims and no one could deny it.