The Pakistani pilgrims will most likely not be able to participate in the 720th annual Urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya as the Indian government has not yet issued visas to them despite the fact that the nine-day celebrations have already begun.
Up to 250 Pakistani pilgrims were supposed to leave for India via the Wagah border on Saturday to participate in the Urs celebrations, but they have not yet received visas from the Indian High Commission.
The Pakistani pilgrims submitted applications through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
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Applicants were directed to reach Haji Camp in Lahore and collect their travel documents from here.
On Friday, a large number of pilgrims reached Haji Camp and waited till late night to get their passports, but the passports were not sent back by the Indian High Commission.
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The religious ministry officials told The Express Tribune that the Indian Embassy had been contacted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the visas of the pilgrims, but so far there was nothing related to the Indian Embassy granting visas to Pakistani pilgrims or rejecting their applications.
The religious affairs ministry officials said that Saturday was a holiday, but they would contact the Indian Embassy.
According to the officials, a message had been sent to all pilgrims that they should not reach the Haji Camp in Lahore. “All visitors were notified through SMS.”
Meanwhile, Indian embassy sources said that they had not yet received permission from New Delhi to issue visas to Pakistani visitors.
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