Daily Times

LAHORE: For performing the rituals of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 284 Sikh pilgrims reached Lahore on Thursday and were received at Wagah Border by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Secretary Tariq Wazir along with other officials of ETPB.

The Sikh party leader Sardar Balvinder Singh while talking to media said, “There should be cordial relations between India and Pakistan so that we have an ease in getting the visa for visiting our holy sites here in Pakistan.”

The deputy party leader Sardar Jagmohan Singh was of the opinion that both the countries should work on policies for the welfare of the people of both the countries. Representatives of Khalra Mission Committee Dr Darshan Singh, Sardar Vinindar Singh and Sardar Karomukh Singh also expressed their love and affection for Pakistan. On the other hand, former president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Sardar Bushan Singh said that no Sikh was leaving Peshawar and negated the ongoing propaganda in India against Sikhs residing in Pakistan.

ETPB Secretary Tariq Wazir while addressing the media said that the government of Pakistan was pleased to welcome the Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan and previously as well when the Sikhs visited Pakistan they were overwhelmed by the respect, hospitality and love shown by the people. He further said that every time the Sikhs visited Lahore, they always took back good memories and that was why they wished to visit again, adding that the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh would be held on June 29 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore and the chief guest would be the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Muhammad Yousaf, whereas all the Sikh pilgrims and members of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee would also attend the ritual.

Through a special train from Wagah Border, the Sikh pilgrims have now moved to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal.

Published in Daily Times, June 22^nd 2018.