Manmohan Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sunny Deol and many other delegates in Pakistan for Kartarpur inauguration
AGENCIES / ISLAMABAD
PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor is the testimony of Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Karatarpur Corridor, Imran Khan said, “Want to congratulate those worked on the temple.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan is addressing a ceremony during which he formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, which will allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit one of the religion’s holiest sites in Pakistan.
“First of all, I congratulate the Sikh community on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak and welcome you all,” the premier began, paying tribute to the government team for completing the Kartarpur project in a matter of months.
“I salute you all. I had no idea you were so efficient. That means we can do so much more,” he told the government officials.
“I am always so happy to see the Sikh community who have come here. God lives in the hearts of all of us. All the messengers who have come and gone only ever brought two messages, that of peace and justice.
“These two things distinguish us from the animal kingdom,” he said.
Prime Minister Imran noted that the lessons that can be drawn from Guru Nanak’s teachings are about bringing people together and not to spread hate.
“I am happy we could do this for you,” he told the hundreds of Sikh pilgrims. “Believe me, I had no idea of the importance this place holds; I found out a year ago.
He said the inability of Sikhs in the past to visit the Kartarpur shrine was akin to Muslims being able to see Madina from a distance but not be able to go near it.
“That is why I am happy to see you so happy and the way your hearts have nothing but prayers for us.”
‘You’ve won hearts’
Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu earlier addressed the ceremony, thanking Prime Minister Imran for taking the bold step to build the Kartarpur Corridor “without looking at gains or losses”.
“You have won hearts,” he said while addressing the premier.
Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri in his address said today’s ceremony and the opening of the Kartapur Corridor is “the biggest message of peace and love” since Partition.
“Imran Khan, the promise you had made to the millions of Sikhs has been fulfilled. And I congratulate Sardar Navjot Singh as it was you who brought this idea to the prime minister.
Manmohan leads Sikhs delegation
Sikhs from across the border started arriving in Pakistan today to make a historic pilgrimage to the shrine of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, which is located in Kartarpur, as Islamabad and New Delhi make history by opening the Kartarpur Corridor today.
Prime Minister Imran arrived at the corridor inauguration ceremony using the shuttle service being used by pilgrims, according to state broadcaster PTV.
The premier, who is accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri and other officials, is also expected to address the gathering.
Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh led the first delegation of Sikh pilgrims as they crossed into Pakistan through the Kartarpur Corridor. Indian Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also part of the jatha (caravan).
“I hope India and Pakistan relations improve enormously as a result of this beginning,” Manmohan told PTV as he walked towards the Pakistan side, terming the occasion a “big moment”.
The Indian Punjab chief minister said they were all happy because it had been a desire of Sikhs to visit their religious sites in Pakistan for 70 years.