Fewer Sikhs are expected to visit Pakistan for this year’s Jore Mela to mark Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom, thanks to the worsening law and order condition in Punjab.
Fewer Sikhs are expected to visit Pakistan for this year’s Jore Mela to mark Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom, thanks to the worsening law and order condition in Punjab, the fresh target of Taliban militants.
The celebration will commence on June 9 and end on June 17, but pilgrims from India are reluctant to visit Pakistan, especially after the terror attacks on the ISI and the Rescue 15 headquarters in Lahore, the assault on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the fidayeen attack on the Mannawan Police Training School in Lahore.
According to Evacuees Property Trust Board chairman Asif Hashmi, only 300 Sikh pilgrims (instead of the expected 4,000) visited Pakistan for Baisakhi. Hashmi said law-enforcement agencies have taken stringent measures in Punjab to provide maximum security to the Sikh pilgrims and that Indian Sikhs should not be worried about law and order conditions in Pakistan. He urged them to visit Pakistan for their religious festival without any fear.
Talking about the plight of Sikhs displaced from Pakistani tribal areas, he said they had left their places due to the on-going military operation against the Taliban.
He said the board was providing maximum relief and comfort to the displaced Sikhs at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassanabdal.
He discarded as “propaganda” reports that the Taliban had demanded jazia from Sikhs living in Pakistan. He said some elements were out to create misunderstanding between Sikhs and Muslims whereas Muslims always respect religious freedom of minorities in Pakistan. He hoped that maximum number of pilgrims from India would visit Pakistan this time too.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}