By Abdul Manan, dailytimes.com.pk

Monday, June 16, 2008

LAHORE: Around 100 Sikh yatris (pilgrims) were sitting under tents at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, coping with humid and oppressive weather, and poor situation they came across during their journey to Pakistan.

They reached Badami Bagh Railway Station from Nankana Sahib by train at 11pm on Friday. “It was a pitch-black night when the train stopped at the railway station,” said Sardar Ramdas Singh, a pilgrim from Ludhiana, “No government official or prominent Sikh leader was there to receive us.”

“The train stopped off the platform,” claimed Paramjit Singh, another pilgrim, “We landed on a heap of garbage and many women fainted,” he said.

“At least 100 pilgrims, including me, could not get rooms at the gurdwara and were told to stay under tents,” he said. Rain added to their misery at night, he added.

No government official came to their rescue and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Perbhandak Committee (PSGPC) was absent from the scene, he said. “Sharomini Gurdwara Perbhandak Committee of Amritsar should be allowed to look after gurdwaras in Pakistan,” demanded Hargopal Singh, another yatri.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Administrator Faraz Abbass said that he would write to the Pakistan Railways to receive Sikh pilgrims at the main railway station instead of Badami Bagh.

He said, “Sikh pilgrims face a number of problems in Pakistan and ETPB is trying best to solve them.” He said Sikh pilgrims were happy with the arrangements made by the ETPB. He said the Federal Religious Ministry was responsible for the formation of the committee.