Pak denies pilgrim visa to Sikhs: SGPC

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on Wednesday alleged the Pakistan high commission had denied pilgrim visa to a group of Sikh devotees without assigning any reason.

In a statement, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi had denied pilgrim visa to 320 Sikhs. He said the SGPC every year sends Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan to observe the death anniversary of fifth Sikh master Guru Arjan Dev at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

But, this is the first time Pakistan has denied visas to Sikh pilgrims without assigning any reason, the statement said. This has hurt sentiments of the Sikh community, Makkar said.

The group was to leave for Pakistan on May 17.