India summons Pak's deputy HC over denial of access to envoy in Islamabad

According to reports, on Saturday, Pakistan 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 has condemned the incident and has already taken up the matter with the foreign office of Pakistan.India today summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner here 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.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned and a strong protest was lodged over the denial of access to Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and consular officials to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province and meet the Indian pilgrims despite a travel permission from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

"Concerns have also been conveyed at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite the Indian pilgrims, and Pakistan authorities asked to ensure that that no such activity is carried out from Pakistan soil," it said.

A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad over the incident, it said.

Pakistan had prevented Indian officials from meeting Sikh pilgrims in the past as well. This is the second consecutive time Pakistan has denied access to the Indian High Commissioner to meet the visiting pilgrims who are Indian nationals.

Both the countries had reached a consensus to ensure smooth visit of their respective diplomats under the 1992 Code of Conduct.

Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974 is another bilateral arrangement between India and Pakistan that aims to let Indian Sikh pilgrims observe religious rites every year in Pakistan without any hassle.

As per reports, Pakistan recently granted visas to more than 300 Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the country and observe ceremonies and rites on the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore.

Over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India have been granted visas and are visiting Pakistan to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said on Friday.

"A special train arranged by the Pakistan Railways carried the pilgrims from Attari to Pakistan on June 21," it said in a statement.

The visas issued by the High Commission are in addition to the ones issued to Sikh pilgrims participating in the event from other countries, it said.

"Within the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, a large number of Sikh yatrees from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals and occasions every year.

"Accordingly, the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi has issued visas to over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, from June 21-30," the High Commission said.