ATTOCK (NNP) As many as 447 Indian Sikh pilgrims arrived at the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal on Saturday to offer their religious rituals as they are on their pilgrimage visit to participate in the rituals in connection with the 185th death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Singh ruled over Punjab in the 19th century and was the first maharaja of the Sikh Empire.
Upon arrival, the pilgrims were welcomed by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and those of the local administration.
Over 600 officials of the police, Elite Force and the Anti-Terrorist Squad were deployed in the railway station and the gurdwara. The pilgrims told media personnel on Saturday that they were satisfied with the arrangements made for them. Group leader Sardar Khushwint Singh has thanked the Pakistani government for allowing a large number of pilgrims to visit their religious places in Pakistan.
Talking to newsmen on this occasion, Assistant commissioner Hassanabdal Arif Qureshi has said that local administration in with collaboration with ETPB, police and Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak committee completed security, administrative and logistic arrangements. He informed that over 600 policemen deployed for the safety and security of the visiting pilgrims. He added that arrangements for boarding and lodging of pilgrims had been made with three liar security for the safety and security of visiting pilgrims during their stay at Hassanabdal.
