Three siblings reunite for the first time since 1947

A Sikh brother and two of his Muslim sisters were separated in the 1947 partition

LAHORE: Among the usual celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Devji’s 549^th birth anniversary, the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, Punjab witnessed an emotional reunion of siblings on Sunday.

Two Muslim sisters – Ulfat Bibi, Mairaj Bibi – hugged and greeted their Sikh brother Sardar Bayanth Singh whom they had not met after over seven decades.

The family was resident of Paracha village near Dera Baba Nanak Gurdaspur, India before the historic partition. However, in the partition a daughter and son went missing.



The family later migrated to Pakistan leaving behind their two children. The mother, Allah Rakhhi, later contacted one of her former neighbours and learnt the whereabouts of her son Bayanth.

Since then Bayanth has been in contact with his sisters over letters and phone calls and only this year planned a pilgrimage to the Nankana Sahib's Gurdwara where he had the opportunity to meet his sisters.

Speaking to the media, Ulfat Bibi expressed the desire to be allowed to travel to India where she can meet her sister-in-law and nieces and nephews.

Ulfat and Miraj have appealed Prime Minister Imran Khan to extend their brother's visa if he cannot be granted Pakistan nationality.

Pakistan and India have decided to open the Kartarpur border corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims visiting one of their holiest sites on the banks of River Ravi in a move that analysts say might thaw the frosty relationship between the two neighbours.

New Delhi announced that it would start construction of the Kartarpur corridor up to the international border with Pakistan. The announcement was immediately welcomed by Islamabad as ‘victory for peace’.