Daily Times

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar hosted the “First International Sikh Convention” at the Governor’s House Lahore on Saturday in which Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Special Assistants to Prime Minister Naeemul Haq, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, provincial ministers and a large number of Sikh pilgrims from the UK, US, Canada and Europe participated.

Addressing the participants, Sarwar said that India might attempt a mischief to sabotage the formal inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor “but we will foil every plan and conspiracy of India”. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan would formally inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor in November. “Even today if India shows seriousness, both countries can resolve issues through dialogue, but India is acting as a rigid state,” he said. “Islam and Baba Guru Nanak both preach equality and love in humanity. In India not only Muslims but also Sikhs and other minorities are facing atrocities of Modi.”

The governor said that on the 550th birthday celebration of Baba Guru Nanak, all the facilities including foolproof security would be provided to Sikh pilgrims.

As per the details, Sarwar chaired and addressed the first International Sikh Convention on Saturday at the Governor’s House. While addressing the convention, Sarwar said that Imran Khan always took measures for welfare of Sikhs and other minorities, and added that all arrangements had been made regarding the inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor project and Baba Guru Nanak’s 550th Birthday celebrations. “Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor Project in the second week of November. Imran Khan has depicted love for Sikhs residing all over the world through this project. The PM has instructed to remove all hurdles in the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor,” he said.

Sarwar announced that 80% work on the corridor had been completed, and added that the agricultural land around the shrine of Baba Guru Nanak would not be used in any commercial activity. Baba Guru Nanak Railway Corridor from Nankana Sahib to Kartarpur was also near to completion, Gurdwara Sucha Suda Road was being completed and the framework of Lahore Safe City Authority was to be stretched to Nankana Sahib, he said, adding that Sikh brothers would be provided foolproof security and other facilities. He said that in the 70-year history of Pakistan, the first “International Sikh Convention” was taking place at the Governor’s House Lahore. Under the leadership of Imran khan, all the minorities residing in Pakistan are getting all the facilities and rights according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, he said. Referring to his time spent in England, the Punjab governor said, “In England I was a minority and I can better tell the feelings of minorities. Until the day I am sitting in the Governor’s House, I will continue with my hospitality for Sikhs.”

Special Assistant to PM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that in Kashmir the barbarianism and killings were on the rise, the acts and cruel face of Modi was in front of the whole world and the way minorities were being treated in India was also no secret. “The Sikh community should project the peace-loving face of Pakistan to the whole world and every inch of Pakistan welcomes Sikh brothers. Kartarpur Corridor project is a historic project. Baba Guru Nanak only preached love and inter-religion harmony, so we have to promote interfaith harmony.”

Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that the International Sikh Convention at the Governor’s House was not a political slogan but a step towards a destination. “The Sikh community looks towards Pakistan with respect because of Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Darbar. The philosophy of Baba Guru Nanak was love, peace and humanity, so it is important to spread his philosophy across the world.”

He said whatever the circumstances were, Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir was one and it would not be changed. Naeemul Haq in his address said that on behalf of PM Imran Khan, “I convey to all Sikh pilgrims that they should consider Pakistan as their home, and we are always standing by you. I will try to arrange a meet-up of Sikh pilgrims with Imran Khan.”

He said because of the Kartarpur Corridor, thousands of Sikhs pilgrims from India would get a chance to visit their sacred religious places on a daily basis. A large number of people including Sikhs also spoke on the occasion and most of the speeches were delivered in Punjabi.