ISLAMABAD – Pakistan, on Sunday, rejected the Indian charge that its HighCommissioner Ajay Bisaria was denied access to a famous Sikh Gurdwara. APakistan Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said Bisaria hadhimself agreed to cancel his visit, following protests by the Sikh pilgrimsagainst the release of controversial movies in India.

India had summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi SyedHaider Shah and lodged a strong protest over the denial of access to itsenvoy in Islamabad and consular officials to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib andmeet visiting Indian pilgrims. It was conveyed to the Pakistan side thatpreventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging theirconsular responsibilities was in violation of the Vienna Convention onDiplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit toreligious shrines.

Faisal said Sikh pilgrims “were protesting against maltreatment in Indiaand the release of controversial movies.” He said the Indian HighCommissioner was informed about the heightened pilgrim sentiments and heagreed to cancel his visit due to this concern.

A section of Sikh pilgrims had barred Indian High Commissioner and his wifefrom entering the Gurdwara. The newsreport stated that charged Sikhpilgrims from India also refused to meet the Indian diplomats.

Pakistani officials claimed that Sikhs all over the world were enraged overthe Indian Supreme Court’s verdict, allowing the controversial film’srelease. The film was released on April 13 when Sikhs were celebratingtheir religious festival Baisakhi. Gurdwara management officials said,fearing a verbal altercation at the Gurdwara, they had requested Bisariaand his wife to cancel the visit.