LAHORE: Sikh pilgrims, who had come to Pakistan from India on June 8, attended religious rituals at Gurdwara Dera Sahib on the eve of martyrdom day of the fifth guru of Sikhism, Arjun Dev Ji here on Sunday.

Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, Sain Ali Raza Qadri, the successor of Saint Mian Mir, officials of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Evacuee Trust Property Board, as well as a large number of local Sikh community were also present on the occasion.

In the prayer ceremony, tributes were paid to the services of Guru Arjun Dev.

The minister said Mian Mir and Guru Arjun Dev had a spiritual connection which would be remembered till the end of the world. He said that the pilgrims were given full hospitality and excellent security during their visit to various Gurdwaras in Punjab.

He said that renovation of a Gurdwara in Jhelum has started while a Gurdwara is also going to open to the Sikh community in Faisalabad.

Mr Arora said that Pakistan has become the first country where the Sikh Marriage Act is in force.

Talking to the media, he said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz desires the Sikh community to take full advantage of the Kartarpur Corridor, while all minorities in Pakistan get complete religious freedom.

The Indian Sikh pilgrims led by Sardar Gurbajan Singh would return to their country on June 17 (today).

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2024