Urs celebrations have started today (Photo: File)
Lahore: Pakistani pilgrims have not yet received visas from the Indian government to participate in the 720th annual Urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
Urs celebrations are starting today (October 28) in the Indian capital and will continue till November 5, in which 250 Pakistani pilgrims were supposed to leave for India via Wagah today, but they are yet to be cleared by the Indian High Commission. Visa could not be obtained.
Pakistani pilgrims submitted applications through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. Applicants were directed to reach Haji Camp Lahore and collect their travel documents from here. Yesterday, a large number of pilgrims reached Haji Camp Lahore and waited till late night to get their passports, but the passports were not sent back by the Indian High Commission.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs told Express that the Indian Embassy has been contacted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the visas of the pilgrims, but so far the Indian Embassy has not received anything related to the granting of visas to the Pakistani pilgrims or the rejection of their applications. has told According to the officials, today is a holiday on Saturday, but they will contact the Indian embassy today. A message is being conveyed to all pilgrims not to reach Haji Camp Lahore yet. When the visas are received, all pilgrims will be informed through SMS.
Sources of the Indian Embassy said that they have not yet received permission from New Delhi to issue visas to Pakistani visitors.
It should be noted that under the India-Pakistan Religious Tourism Agreement of 1974, India is obliged to grant visas to 250 Pakistani pilgrims to attend the Urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, but the Indian Embassy often delayed providing visas to Pakistani pilgrims. Is or visas are refused on the spot.
On the other hand, under the same religious tourism agreement, Pakistan will issue visas to 3,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims in November to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Devji.
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