NANKANA SAHIB (Pakistan), Nov 10 — Mr Rafiq Tarar, President, Pakistan, will be presented with a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) by the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC) and the Sikh “sangat” at the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak here tomorrow.

The police has made unprecedented security arrangements. Despite the ban imposed by the SGPC on sending jathas to Pakistan in protest against the formation of the PGPC, a large number of Sikh devotees have reached the birthplace of Guru Nanak here from various countries.

While Mr Parmjit Singh Sarna, former chief of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee brought a jatha of 1100 devotees, Sant Mangal Singh of the Sant Samaj, Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr Rajinder Garm, an SGPC member of the SAD (Mann), Mr Harpal Singh Bhullar of the Baba Mardana Society, and Prof Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, have brought large jathas here to celebrate Gurpurb.

Mr Izhar-ul-Hassan, Additional Secretary, Aukaf Board, is camping here to personally monitor the arrangements. The security forces are keeping a strict vigil on the visitors. Pre-recorded audio-cassettes on Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, are being played in the gurdwara.

Talking to TNS, Mr Sham Singh, Co-Chairman, PGPC, said apart from Mr Rafiq Tarar, Mr Jawed Nasir, Chairman, Aukaf Board, Mr Khalid Ranjha, Minister, Minorities, and Mr S.K. Tusler, Central Minister, Minorities, would reach here.

After the formation of the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), it is for the first time that Gurpurb is being celebrated at a large scale. A large number of devotees from America, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and Britain had reached Gurdwara Dera Sahib (Lahore), Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib much before those from India.

Militant leaders, including Gajinder Singh, Chairman, Dal Khalsa International, leaders of the Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation are likely to address the Sikh “sangat” tomorrow.