Pakistani Sikhs protest India’s travel ban on pilgrims

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Sikh community in Pakistan Friday protested in northeastern Lahore city against Indian government, which allegedly restricted the Indian Sikhs from visiting their religious sites in Pakistan.

Carrying posters and chanting slogans against the Indian government, dozens of Sikhs -- including children -- gathered outside Lahore Press Club, and demanded an immediate end to reported pilgrimage ban.

“This is yet another testimony of India’s attitude towards religious minorities. New Delhi must not play with our religious sentiments in the name of politics,” Sardar Tara Singh Dharki, a leader of local Sikh community, said while addressing the protesters.

Late last month, New Delhi stopped over 150 Sikh pilgrims from crossing over to Pakistan to attend the ceremonies relating to death anniversary of 18th century’s Sikh King of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

It also stopped over 200 pilgrims from attending Shaheedi Jor Mela -- celebrations for the fifth Guru of the Sikh religion in early June.

Pakistan’s northeastern Nankana Saheb town near Lahore is the birthplace of the founder of Sikh religion, Baba Guru Nanak, which is visited by thousands of Sikhs from across the world, including India every year.

Also, Pakistan is home to several other holy Sikh sites, which attract a large number of community members from all around the world.

The number of Sikhs in Pakistan is estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 out of some 200 million population of this South Asian Muslim country.