Sikh pilgrims and visa laws’ implementation

2026-02-10 - 22:26

AROUND 170 to 195 historical Gurdwaras are located in different areas of Pakistan. After August 1947, due to the absence of the Sikh community, most Gurdwaras were not properly looked after. As a result, out of hundreds, only a few Gurdwaras are fully or partially operational for pilgrimage visits or Yatris. The Government of Pakistan has, however, maintained the sanctity and undertaken renovation of prominent Sikh holy places including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh, Gurdwara Bal Lilah, Gurdwara Diwan Kaura Mal, Gurdwara Shahid Ganj Bhai Taru Singh, Gurdwara Kiara Sahib and others. Thousands of Sikh pilgrims visit these sacred sites throughout the year to celebrate important religious festivals. International Sikh religious tourism also contributes significantly to Pakistan’s economy. However, defective and outdated laws and rules regarding pilgrimage visas have created serious confusion which may threaten the legal status of international Sikh pilgrims, especially in cases of misuse of Yatri visas while visiting Pakistan. This issue is not only affecting the Sikh community living across the world but is also posing a grave threat to international religious tourism in Pakistan. Such confusion has discouraged the international Sikh community and damaged the economy, interfaith harmony, credibility of Pakistan’s institutions and Punjabi solidarity. Pakistan and India signed a “Protocol of Visits to Religious Shrines” on 14 September 1974 to ensure smooth visa processing for visits to religious places in both countries by religious communities of India and Pakistan. However, this Protocol is outdated and fails to meet the challenges and exponential changes of the contemporary era, particularly concerning misuse of pilgrimage and conditional visas. Any violation of a pilgrim visa not only threatens Pakistan’s security but also creates feelings of ill will between the two Punjabi communities. This further results in detrimental effects on religious, cultural and linguistic harmony. As legal counsel in a deportation petition of Mahinder Pall Singh, Ex-MPA and Parliamentary Secretary, bearing No. 72653/25 against Sarabjeet Kaur before the Lahore High Court, I am an eyewitness to the misuse of pilgrimage visas, violation of conditional visas and breaches of the Foreigners Act 1946 and Standing Order No. 29/2005 for personal interests. This violation has created panic and resentment within the international Sikh community regarding the case. Sarabjeet Kaur, an Indian Sikh pilgrim, arrived with a religious delegation (Jatha) from India after obtaining a limited and non-extendable pilgrimage visa for a 10-day visit. The Government of Pakistan permitted her to visit only six Gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Sacha Sauda Sahib, Dera Sahib, Rori Sahib, Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur) and Panja Sahib. She disappeared from Nankana Sahib on 4 November 2025 and failed to join the religious ceremonies. It was later disclosed that she had eloped with a Pakistani national, Nasir Hussain and married him after converting to Islam. Leaving the Gurdwara premises and marrying a resident of Sheikhupura constituted a severe violation of the visa conditions agreed upon by Pakistan and India. Her visa expired on 14 November 2025, as the Protocol does not allow any extension of pilgrimage visas. She has been living in Pakistan illegally since 5 November 2025 and onward, and is liable to investigation and deportation to India in order to restore the supremacy of law and the trust of the Sikh community. Sarabjeet Kaur has a criminal record in India, with approximately four criminal cases registered against her and eight against her sons in Indian Punjab. Despite this record, Indian law enforcement agencies granted her security clearance during the visa process, making the matter even more suspicious, particularly in the context of Indian-sponsored terrorist activities in Pakistan. Religion cannot be used as a tool to pursue nefarious designs, nor can visa relaxations be granted arbitrarily. A pilgrimage visa may only be used for the purpose of congregational religious rites, not for marriage or other unlawful activities. The limited and conditional pilgrimage visa was misused and exploited by Sarabjeet Kaur for concealed, ulterior and unlawful motives, constituting a grave violation of the Foreigners Act 1946 and Standing Order No. 29/2005. Despite their obligations under Standing Order No. 29/2005, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as the direct custodian and manager of Sikh pilgrims and the Punjab Police failed to take any action, including registration of an FIR and initiation of deportation proceedings. The Government of Pakistan must take stern measures to prevent future violations of the “Protocol of Visits to Religious Shrines 1974” and the Foreigners Act 1946 by pilgrims of any community on security grounds. Such measures are essential to restore the confidence of international pilgrims and to promote religious tourism and interfaith harmony in Pakistan. Pilgrims must strictly adhere to Pakistan’s domestic laws and refrain from engaging in activities that fall outside the scope and conditions of the granted visa. —The writer specializes in public interest litigation and is a human rights activist. (adv.ali.changezi.sandhu5@gmail.com)