India issues visas to 102 Pakistani pilgrims for Nizamuddin’s Urs

A total of 250 devotees sought permit to the neighbouring country

LAHORE:

The Indian government on Sunday finally issued visas to 102 Pakistani pilgrims, allowing them to participate in the 720th annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.

The Urs celebrations have already begun on October 28, and pilgrims from various cities in Pakistan, who had previously submitted visa applications, gathered at Haji Camp Lahore in anticipation of getting timely visa.

Initially, the Indian Embassy had not granted visas to these pilgrims, causing concerns.

Read More: ‘Cultural diplomacy key to religious harmony’

However, according to officials from the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Indian Embassy has now approved visas for 102 Pakistani pilgrims.

These pilgrims are scheduled to embark on their journey to India through the Wagah border on the morning of October 31.

Upon entering India, the pilgrims will travel by bus to the Attari border and proceed to Amritsar Railway Station.
From there, they will take a train to Delhi, where the Urs celebrations of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya are currently underway.

Read More: Pakistani pilgrims pay respects at Khawaja Nizamuddin Auliya’s shrine in India

It's worth noting that the Indian Embassy rejected visa applications for 148 other Pakistani pilgrims, out of 250 applicants in total who had sought visas through the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Earlier, 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.
Meanwhile, Indian embassy sources said that they had not yet received permission from New Delhi to issue visas to Pakistani visitors.