NANKANA SAHIB: More than 1,100 Sikh yatrees along with a ‘Palki’ have arrived in Pakistan from India.
They visited Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib and performed their religious rituals.
Evacuee Trust Property Board has made special arrangements for security and accommodation of yatrees near Gurdwara and also renovated it in a beautiful manner.
The yatrees praised Prime Minister Imran Khan for opening the Kartarpur Corridor and laying foundation stone of Baba Guru Nanak University in connection with 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.
After Nankana Sahib, the ‘Palki’ would be taken to Kartarpur and it will be installed there permanently.
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Earlier, Indian authorities at Attari border crossing denied permission to the bus carrying golden ‘Palki’ Sahib to cross over to Pakistan.
Upon refusal by the Indian authorities, the Sikh Yatrees carried the golden ‘Palki’ Sahib on their shoulders along with Guru Granth Sahib and entered Pakistan via Wagha border crossing.
Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, alongside officials of Evacuee Trust Property Board, Rangers and Pakistani Sikh leadership welcomed the ‘Nagar Kirtan’ and ‘Palki’ Sahib on Pakistani side of the border.
The Sikh leadership and Yatrees condemned the Indian decision to deny permission to the holy bus to enter Pakistan, saying the interior of the bus had been decorated as a Gurdwara.
On Nov 1, Prime Minister Imran Khan had waived off two requirements for Sikhs coming for pilgrimage to Kartarpur from India.
“The Sikhs from India would not need a passport now but just a valid identity card. They no longer have to register ten days in advance,” he had said in a tweet.
The prime minister had said no fee would be charged from them on the day of inauguration of Kartarpur corridor and Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th birthday.