Pakistan may declare Wagah railway station as ‘no go zone’ during Sikh jatha’s visit

AMRITSAR: Pakistan government has reportedly made elaborate security arrangements ahead of the visit of two Indian Sikh jatha’s in the month of June and July.
According to intelligence sources, Pakistan government could declare Wagah (Pakistan) railway station as ‘no go zone’ and only the persons possessing entry passes issued by Pakistan’s security agencies would be allowed to enter in the security cordon during both the visits of Indian Sikh jatha’s.
The two Indian Sikh jatha’s would leave for Pakistan from June 14 to 23 and June 27 to July 6 to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh respectively.
“Normally they provide sufficient security to Indian pilgrims but declaring ‘no go zone’ around Wagah railway station is something new for us” said a senior security officer who didn’t want to give his name.
Notably, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has already denied sending Sikh jatha to Pakistan to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev after Pakistan high commission in Delhi refused to issue visas to observe Guru’s martyrdom anniversary according to Akal Takht approved and SGPC published Nanakshahi Calendar. Instead, Pakistan embassy insisted on issuing visa according to Nanakshai Calendar followed by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
In India, Sikh’s have already observed Guru’s martyrdom anniversary on June 7 while in Pakistan the Sikhs would observe the day on June 16.
Sources also informed that a group of Sikhs from UK and USA had offered to mediate between SGPC and PSGPC to sink differences over Nanakshahi calendar that had caused massive confusion among Sikh’s across the world. “They may hold a meeting at Gurdwara Dera Sahib with PSGPC as well as Evacuee Trust Property Board and prominent Sikh leader of Pakistan to extend an invitation to SGPC to discuss on the issue,” said sources.
Meanwhile, a few Sikh groups from India would be sending jatha’s to Pakistan according to their programme.
President of Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha Swaran Singh Gill informed that he would be leading a jatha to Pakistan on June 14. Talking about the security arrangements, he informed that there had not been any security issue during a pilgrimage in Pakistan