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| November 13, 2005 | Sunday | Shawwal 10, 1426 |
Guru Nanak’s birth festival
SHEIKHUPURA, Nov 12: More than 16,000 Sikhs from abroad, besides 10,000 local pilgrims, are expected to reach Nankana Sahib to attend the 536th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Jee to begin at Gurdawara Janam Asthan.
The three-day event would be held amid beefed up security and elaborate administrative measures taken by various government departments under the supervision of District Coordination Officer Faisal Asghar and DPO Tahir Alam Khan.
The Pakistan Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee (PGPC) chief Sardar Mushtan Singh told media the celebrations would be attended by pilgrims from India, England, Afghanistan and the US.
He said a 20-member body led by Sardar Satnam Singh would perform duties round-the-clock to serve the pilgrims arriving from all over the world.
The PGPC chairman said security cameras had been installed to keep a watch on the activities of the visitors.
The DPO said a large number of plainclothesmen had been deployed at sensitive points, while police pickets had also been set up near the main entrance of the Gurdawara. He said traffic police led by a DSP had made arrangements to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles during the celebrations.
The DPO said special stalls had been set up to help the pilgrims at the railway station and other places near the Gurdawara. He said only one gate of the Gurdawara would be opened for pilgrims’ entrance which would be manned by the security staff to check inflow of the unauthorized persons.
The Evacuee Trust Properties Board (ETPB) would provide all necessary assistance to the security staff, and special branch would provide security passes to all the staff concerned, the DPO said. He said the bomb disposal squad, ambulances and doctors would remain present at the Gurdawara during the celebrations.
The Federal Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights chairman MNA Rai Mansib Ali Khan told Dawn that the government had also made arrangements for the lodging and travelling of the pilgrims.
Rai Mansib said the ETPB officials, local parliamentarians, PGPC members, nazims, councillors and the district administration staff would welcome the pilgrims at the Gurdawara.
Meanwhile, ETPB chief Lt-Gen Zulifqar Ali Khan (retired) said the pilgrims from Indian and other countries who are currently visiting Gurdawara Panja Sahib, Hassanabdal, would leave for Nankana Sahib through a special Pakistan Railways’ train, adds APP.
He said the pilgrims had been housed in various Gurdawaras, where free “Langar” (food) was being provided to them, besides lockers for safety of their documents and valuables during their stay.
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