Indian Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal
RAWALPINDI:
Chief Minister of Indian Punjab is likely to visit Pakistan during the last week of February, official sources told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
Rawalpindi police are finalizing a security plan for Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who along with some other officials will pay a visit to the town.
During a recent visit to India, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reportedly had extended invitation to his Indian counterpart.
Sources in the police department said the Punjab government has directed them to take extraordinary security measures for the visit.
“We will provide foolproof security to the visiting chief minister and we have started finalizing security plan,” said a senior police officer, who wished not to be named.
During the visit, CM Badal is likely to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his Pakistani counterpart Shahbaz Sharif and other political figures.
According to the sources, he may also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib at Hassanabdal, one of the holiest places of Sikh religion.
Foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, when asked about the visit, said “since the Punjab government is dealing with this matter, I have no information when he is arriving.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2014.
COMMENTS (11)
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@goggi (Lahore):
Have patient Sir, they are all anxious to cross the border to be with you to become ONE again. Those who belong to one another can also grow together.
Rex Minor
@Jahangir Chauhan: Fat chance. It has been tried and it has failed. I think Pakistanis should be more worrying about independent Balochistan, Pukhtoon land and Sindhudesh. They have more chances to turn into independent states given the kind of situation.
Hmm did Pakistan ever had a Sikh on any top government position??? India has a Sikh P.M. Before that, there was a Sikh President.That should be enough to answer you. Seems like Pakistanis are blinded by the hate towards India. Your country is made only for Muslims and minorities have no stake in it. Had whole Punjab be part of Pakistan, there would not have been any prosper/safe/secure Sikh or Hindu living in it. So, think before you speak and if you don't have anything intelligent thing to say, keep the mouth shut and as your fast friend Chinese say, a fly can't get in a closed mouth.
@Aftab: Seems like history, geography is in shambles too in Pakistan. East Punjab is the Indian state.
Punjab is beautiful either East Punjab or West but if East Punjabis truely love Punjab then they shouldnot stop rivers which flows in West Punjab from East Punjab. That will be great gesture towards the Punjabi dignity and love for each other.But we all knows they are also oppressed by the Union of India by breaking that beautiful province into three small parts or province.
@Aftab: but that is Indian Punjab at the moment. They maybe Khalistan in future who knows.
Stay safe Mr Badal, I hope you dont get presidential security as SL team did.
East Punjab not Indian Punjab.