Pak high commission misplaces passports of 23 Sikh devotees

THE INDIANS HAD APPLIED FOR VISA IN PAKISTAN HIGH COMMISSION TO VISIT GURDWARAS, INCLUDING THE KARTARPUR SAHIB

NEW DELHI: The Union government on Wednesday said it has declared as passports of 23 Indians from the Sikh community “lost” after it received information that the documents were misplaced by the Pakistani High Commission here.

The Indians had applied for visa in Pakistan High Commission to visit gurdwaras, including the Kartarpur Sahib, in that country.

“The ministry of external affairs has received information that a total 23 passports have been misplaced by the high commission of Pakistan in New Delhi,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said in Lok Sabha.

“To prevent their misuse, all passports have been declared as ‘lost’ in the database,” she said as she replied to a question on the issue.

The minister said instructions have been issued to authorities concerned to exercise caution while processing applications of the affected persons for re-issuance of their passports.

Pakistan had issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan from November 21-30. The 23 Indians, whose passports went missing, had applied for visa to travel to Pakistan along with a group of 3,800 Sikh pilgrims. A number of persons approached police after their passports went missing.