AMRITSAR (PTI): Sikhs living abroad have urged the Pakistan government to allow pilgrimage of Sikh shrines to some of the shrines lying locked since the last 46 years.
This was stated June 8 by Surjit Singh Panesar; chairman of the England based nine member trusts which had undertaken repair and renovation of many Sikh gurdwaras in Pakistan with money donated by Sikhs in foreign countries.
Before returning to Pakistan to supervise “Karseva,” the voluntary service of the gurdwaras, Panesar said that a delegation of Sikhs submitted a memorandum to the Pakistan premier on May 25 seeking free visit to Sikhs of locked shrines in Pakistan. He claimed that talks with the Pakistan government for opening of Sikh shrines of Kartarpur Sahib on the banks of the river Ravi where Guru Nanak spent his last days, Gurdwara Ber Sahib in Sialkot and three Gurdwaras in Eminabad, was in the last stage of discussions and expressed hope that the Pakistan government would give permission to Sikhs coming lo Pakistan to visit these shrines.
The Pakistan government is allowing pilgrimage of three main shrines to pilgrims from India visiting Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday, Baisakhi day, Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom day and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
He said the historic shrines at Emanabadon Lahore Gujranwala road Rori Sahib, Chakki Sahib and Khooh Bhai Lalo would be thrown open to the Sikh pilgrims by next year.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 18, 1993
