CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Imran Khan government plans to give Sikh pilgrims “visa-free direct access” to the historic Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government was developing a “system” for Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib and some forward movement is to be expected soon.
He said, “Pakistan will soon open the border at Kartarpur for Sikh pilgrims who will be able to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without visas,” adding that “a road will be constructed for the pilgrims to come. They will then have to buy a ticket to go back.” There is no clarity however whether the access will be permanent or be specifically for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev next year. While there has been a longstanding demand in India for opening a corridor for the Sikh pilgrims between Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province and Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur.
However, there has been no official announcement by the Pakistan government, and no confirmation from New Delhi. Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu convened a press conference last week to announce that Islamabad had decided to allow access to Kartarpur corridor. Meanwhile, the BJO took a dig at Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu thanking Pakistan. They said leaders admiring the neighbouring country were on a rise in the Opposition party. BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters that it has become a habit of the Congress to praise Pakistan. He also sought clarification from Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the matter, noting that Sidhu was a minister in the Congress-led Punjab government and also a good friend of the party president.
