Hope such things are not repeated: Bisaria on Panja Sahib episode
Bisaria
'I was not allowed to go in to meet with the Indian pilgrims (visiting the Gurdwara Panja Sahib near Islamabad) which is a normal diplomatic duty of an envoy. It has been taken up at all levels. We hope such things are not repeated,' India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria said at the Wagah- Attari border after crossing over into India
India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, who was recently restricted from entering Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan's Hasan Abdal, has said that the matter is being taken up at all levels. He also expressed hope that such incidents will not be repeated in future.
"I was not allowed to go in to meet with the Indian pilgrims (visiting the Gurdwara Panja Sahib near Islamabad) which is a normal diplomatic duty of an envoy. It has been taken up at all levels. We hope such things are not repeated," India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria said at the Wagah- Attari border after crossing over into India.
Pakistan had denied Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria an entry to Gurudwara Panja Sahib near Islamabad. Bisaria, who wanted to visit the holy site and meet Sikh pilgrims along with his wife, had all the necessary permits for the visit but had to return to Islamabad instead.
India condemned the incident and raised the matter with the foreign office of Pakistan. India also summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over the denial of access to its envoy in Islamabad and consular officials to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib and meet visiting Indian pilgrims.
It was conveyed to the Pakistan side that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging their consular responsibilities was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines.
Pakistan on Sunday rejected the allegations of denying Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria access to a famous Sikh Gurduwara on Saturday. Pakistani officials stated that the diplomat had agreed to cancel his visit following the protests by the Sikh pilgrims against the release of controversial movies in India.
This is not the first time when an official from the Indian High Commissioner was denied entry to visit pilgrims in Pakistan.
Over two months ago, Pakistani authorities had prevented Indian High Commission officials from performing basic consular and protocol duties for Sikh pilgrims who had arrived in Pakistan from India to celebrate Baisakhi.