LAHORE | Nazrana Times Ali Imran Chattha 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Parliamentary Secretary for Minorities Affairs and Human Rights, Government of Punjab, Sardar Mahinder Pal Singh has called for a full and impartial investigation into the incident in which Sikh pilgrims were stopped at Faisalabad Airport, along with compensation for the financial losses suffered by the Sikh sangat.
In a video message, Mahinder Pal Singh said the stopping of the Sikh jatha travelling from Faisalabad to India appeared to be an attempt by a “hidden hand” to damage relations between the Sikh community in Pakistan and Sikhs living around the world.
He urged the Government of Pakistan to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure that the affected Sikh sangat is compensated for its losses.
He also called on the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and other relevant authorities to issue an apology to the Sikh sangat.
Mahinder Pal Singh questioned why the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) had not been issued or facilitated in advance if it was necessary for the pilgrims’ journey. He specifically questioned the role of the PSGPC and ETPB in ensuring that the required clearance was in place before the group reached the airport.
He demanded that authorities determine who was responsible for stopping the pilgrims and take action against those found responsible.
The PTI leader said the pilgrims were travelling for a religious pilgrimage and that their return journey was scheduled through the Wagah border.
He urged the government to ensure that similar incidents do not recur and that Sikh pilgrims are able to undertake religious journeys in accordance with applicable rules while their rights, dignity and safety are protected.