AMRITSAR: Pakistan Prime Minister Raza Pervej Ashraf today assured the heads and office bearers of various Sikh organizations that the Sikhs and their religious shrines in Pakistan were safe.
American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee coordinator Dr.Pritpal Singh who welcomed the meeting of the Sikh leaders with PM at Lahore today said PM met them soon after he addressed a seminar on 'Sikh Kaum Aaj Kithe Khari Hai’ at Dyal Singh Resrach Centre’s library
He said PM was receptive to various demands raised by the Sikh leaders who included Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Sham Singh, Jang Bahadur Singh, Manmohan Singh and Resham Singh. There were apprehensions relating the security of the Sikhs in Pakistan especially after they became target of attacks in certain parts and there were reports of some lands belonging to the Gurdwaras being grabbed but PM assured security. "He assured that the Sikhs and their shrines were safe in Pakistan’’, said Dr.Pritpal
Along with PM, Punjab Governor Latif Khan, Federal Ministers Mrs Khalid Shamina Kurki, Akram Gill, Paul Bhatti were also present. A large number of Sikhs had gathered in Pakistan for the celebration of the Gurpurab of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji at his birthplace Nanakana Sahib in Pakistan. The meeting which lasted for a few hours was held in highly congenial and peaceful atmosphere, said Dr.Pritpal. He said the issue of liberal visas for the Sikh devotees visiting Pakistan from India and other countries was also taken up and he assured to work in close coordination with the Indian government to ease the visa process.
Dr.Pritpal said that PM promised beautification of the city as the city was highly revered by the Sikhs across the word. He said during the seminar also the Sikh intellectuals discussed in details various problems and challenges before the Sikh panth today to find its solution in the near future. Dr.Pritpal thanked the government of Pakistan and its people for welcoming the Sikh devotees during the Gurpurab.
