92 Pakistani Sikhs stopped at Faisalabad airport en route to Hemkund Sahib

More than 90 Pakistani Sikhs on their way to Sri Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand were stopped by immigration authorities from boarding an indirect flight to India on Friday, officials said. The group had visas for the pilgrimage but was not allowed to travel from Faisalabad International Airport.

Officials said the pilgrims were stopped because they did not have return tickets and a no-objection certificate from the federal government. They were told they could proceed to their destination after producing both documents.

An official of the Federal Investigation Agency told PTI that 92 Pakistani Sikhs, including women and children, had arrived at the airport, around 150 km from Lahore, to catch an indirect flight to India. However, the authorities stopped them from boarding a Gulf-bound airline as they did not possess a return ticket and the required no-objection certificate.

"The immigration officials told them to produce an NOC from the federal government and the return ticket, after which they would be allowed to proceed to their destination," the official said. At present, there is no direct air, rail or road link between Pakistan and India.

Another federal government official told PTI that the Sikh pilgrims had arranged their Indian visas on their own through the Delhi Mandar Management Committee. "They should have coordinated with the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee for their travel and preferred Wagah Border for crossing into India," he said, adding that they may be allowed to go on the pilgrimage through the Wagah Border.

In a video being widely shared online, a Pakistani Sikh at Faisalabad airport said the immigration authorities had stopped them from travelling to India. "For the last four hours we are languishing at the Faisalabad airport...someone should take notice of this and help the pilgrims proceed to their destination," he said. Other Sikh families were also seen waiting at the airport premises as the group sought clearance to continue its journey.

The incident left 92 Pakistani Sikh pilgrims stranded at Faisalabad airport despite holding visas for Sri Hemkund Sahib, with officials saying they would need a return ticket and a no-objection certificate before being allowed to travel, while a possible journey through the Wagah Border was also indicated.