M A I N   N E W S

After hiccups, Pak Hindu pilgrims arrive in India
Tribune News Service

Islamabad/Amritsar, Aug 10
Pakistan Immigration authorities today stopped around 250 Pakistani Hindus from crossing over to India at the Wagah border following a controversy over reports of an exodus of the minority community from Sindh province, but later allowed around 125 of them to cross over to India. The remaining members of the jatha are expected to cross over tomorrow.

The jatha members, who are here to pay obeisance at various Hindu shrines in India, were ‘detained’ in view of the reports that minority community members were planning to migrate to India. They were reportedly made to give an undertaking that they would return to Pakistan and would not stay back in India, it is learnt.

As per the reports, the pilgrims have a 33-day visa for different Indian cities. These 250 pilgrims, who reached Pakistan Customs and Immigration authorities on the Indo-Pak border at 8 am, started crossing over to India only after 2.30 pm as various Pakistan agencies flocked to the Wagah border in view of the reports regarding their migration. Around 125 pilgrims crossed over to India before the retreat ceremony, while the remaining are expected to cross over tomorrow.

Talking to mediapersons, Anup Kumar, one of the member of the jatha, said they would visit Amritsar, Delhi, Haridwar, Indore and Rishikesh. Anil Kumar, another pilgrim, dismissed reports that they plan to settle down in India while stating that “we will die where we were born”. However, there were others who could not hide their sentiments. Ayesha from Karachi literally broke down in front of TV cameras while stating that they would settle down in India if they get asylum.

Kashi from Quetta said the situation there is bad. “Kidnapping, extortion and forcible conversions have become order of the day there.” Dalip Kumar from Quetta also echoed similar sentiments, but they would return to Pakistan as of now.