ISLAMABAD – Pakistani High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood hasstressed upon the Indian government to fully implement the bilateral 1974Protocol between India and Pakistan on Visits to Religious Shrines.

The Pakistan Government made assiduous efforts to preserve religious sitesand facilitate visits of people of all faiths, he told the Tribune Indiadaily.

Referring to recent visit of the Sikh Yatrees to Pakistan, he said it wasconsistent with the governments commitment and in accordance withprovisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines.

Over 20,000 Sikh pilgrims from across the globe attended the Baisakhifestival with the main celebrations held in Gurdawara Panja Sahib inHassanabdal.

The high commissioner emphasizing upon the faithful implementation of thebilateral protocol, said the people from different faiths usually wait andprepare for their religious journeys throughout the year.

In the meanwhile, on Sunday, the Foreign Office in a press statementrejected Indian Ministry of External Affairs allegations by saying that itdeeply regretted Indian attempt to generate controversy around the visitsof Sikh pilgrims and to vitiate the environment of bilateral relations.

For decades, Pakistan has made excellent arrangements to facilitate thevisits of Sikh Yatrees from across the world, including India, and extendedprotocol, reception, security, medical and other facilities which wasconsistent with its religious ethos and traditions of hospitality.

“It is ironic for the Government of India to accuse Pakistan of violatingthe 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, whereas it is the IndianGovernment that has, in clear violation of the Protocol, twice within thisyear denied visas to Pakistani pilgrims on occasions of Urs of HazratNizamuddin Auliya (R.A.) and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri (R.A.) andscuttled at least three visits of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims to ReligiousShrines in Pakistan since June 2017,” it added.

It said for its part, Pakistan would continue to adhere to the 1974Protocol, as was evident from issuance of visas to over 2,000 visas SikhYatrees from India.

“We hope that the Indian side would abide by the provisions of the Protocolin letter and spirit,” the spokesman reminded Indian government. – APP