Amritsar, 08 June (H.S.): A group of 541 Sikh pilgrims has received visas to visit Pakistan for the observance of the martyrdom anniversary of the fifth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The pilgrimage, being organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), will depart from the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar on June 10.

Providing details, Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, Secretary of the SGPC’s Dharam Prachar Committee, said that the SGPC had submitted 561 passport applications to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Out of these, visas were granted to 541 pilgrims, while 20 applicants did not receive visas.

He said the pilgrimage group will travel to Pakistan to participate in religious events being held on June 18 to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The pilgrims will visit several historic Sikh shrines in Pakistan, offer prayers, and take part in the commemorative functions. The group is scheduled to return to India on June 19.

Mathrewal stated that the pilgrims who have received visas can collect their passports from the SGPC office on June 9 during office hours. He urged all pilgrims to complete the necessary travel formalities and collect their documents on time.

The SGPC official also released the serial numbers of the applicants who were not granted visas. According to him, the applicants bearing serial numbers 82, 85, 86, 102, 125, 138, 182, 183, 240, 251, 293, 329, 330, 331, 352, 395, 438, 439, 440 and 441 were denied visas by the Pakistan High Commission.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH