Pakistan denies entry to Sikh pilgrim'

Islamabad: Pakistani authorities have denied entry to a Sikh pilgrim at the Wagah border for carrying a passport with a ‘dubious expiry date.’ The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials said they deported ‘an unwanted Indian national’ who was trying to enter Pakistan in the disguise of a Sikh pilgrim.

Around 2,008 Sikh pilgrims reached Pakistan through Wagah railway station on Saturday to participate in the three-day annual celebration of 548th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak.

The officials said — during security check and immigration process — identified one Indian, Gurmeet Singh, who had been blacklisted by the Ministry of Interior.

They said during the entry process, immigration staff felt that Mr Singh’s visa was tempered. They later shifted him to Wagah check post for investigation and inspection of his documents. There it was found that his entry was banned in Pakistan and he had been deported earlier for his involvement in anti-Pakistani activities.