The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has reported that nearly 65% of Sikh pilgrims, whose passports were submitted for visas to attend the Parkash Gurpurb celebrations of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, have been denied entry. Of the 2,244 pilgrims’ passports submitted to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, visas were denied for 1,481 individuals.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed disappointment over the situation, noting that, unlike previous years, this time a large number of pilgrims were denied visas. He urged both the Indian and Pakistani governments to address the issue to facilitate pilgrimage for Sikh devotees. The SGPC has reportedly raised the concern with officials from both countries.
The remaining pilgrims who have been granted visas are expected to proceed to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border for the celebrations on November 15.