New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) India on Saturday summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest at the denial of access to the Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria
and consular officials to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib and meet the Indian pilgrims
In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs said here that Pakistani side resorted to this "despite a travel permission" having been granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
"A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the incident," it said
adding this is the "second consecutive time, Pakistan has denied access to Indian High Commissioner
to meet the visiting pilgrims who are Indian nationals.
"Indian organizers, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), when contacted, have expressed grave
concern and dismay at the incident despite the visiting pilgrims from India having asked Pakistan organisers
to facilitate a meeting with Indian High Commissioner and High Commission officials," the statement said.
It has been conveyed to Pakistan side that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging its consular responsibilities is in "violation" of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines.
"Concerns have also been conveyed at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite the Indian pilgrims, and Pakistan authorities asked to ensure that no such activity is carried out from Pakistan soil," the MEA statement said.
Earlier in the day, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was reportedly stopped from visiting
Gurudwara Panja Sahib at Hasan Abdal near Rawalpindi.
Mr Bisaria, accompanied by his wife, had to return to Islamabad without visiting the Gurdwara
despite having obtained all necessary permissions for the visit in advance.
UNI DEVN ADG 1639