A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission to the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad.
India lodged a strong protest to the Pakistani authorities on Saturday for denying access to the Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and consular officials to meet visiting Indian pilgrims and visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib despite a travel permission granted by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and conveyed to him that preventing Indian High Commission officials from discharging consular responsibilities was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines. A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission to the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad.
Within hours, Pakistan dismissed the Indian protest and claimed that the Sikh pilgrims were protesting maltreatment in India and release of controversial movies. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said, "Indian HC was informed about the heightened pilgrim sentiments and he agreed to cancel his visit due to this concern."
This is the second consecutive time Pakistan has denied access to Indian High Commissioner to meet visiting pilgrims who are Indian nationals, MEA said.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) expressed grave concern and dismay at the incident, although the Indian pilgrims having asked Pakistan organisers to facilitate a meeting with Indian High Commissioner and High Commission officials.
Concerns have also been conveyed at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite Indian pilgrims. Pakistan authorities have been asked to ensure that no such activity is carried out from Pakistan soil, said the MEA.
Earlier, Faisal had tweeted: More than 300 Indian Sikhs are visiting Pakistan for the death anniversary of Raja Ranjit Singh. A special train was arranged by Pakistan railways from Attari to Wagah for the yatris who are always welcome to Pakistan for their religious and cultural ceremonies."
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