logo
Khalsa leader expresses solidarity with Pakistan

Khalsa leader expresses solidarity with Pakistan

Express Tribune29-04-2025

The leader of the Khalistan Movement, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, has expressed solidarity with Pakistan, stating that 20 million Sikhs stood with Pakistan.
"We stand with the people of Pakistan like a brick wall. This is neither 1965 nor 1971—this is 2025. We will not let the Indian Army cross Punjab to attack Pakistan," Pannu said in a statement. The Khalsa leader said India had been oppressing minorities, especially Sikhs. He said Sikh leaders had also raised their voices against India's state-sponsored terrorism.
Pannu said the name Pakistan itself meant 'pure' and that India did not have the courage to attack it.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Indian PM Modi says he will go to Canada for G7 summit
Indian PM Modi says he will go to Canada for G7 summit

Business Recorder

timea day ago

  • Business Recorder

Indian PM Modi says he will go to Canada for G7 summit

NEW DELHI: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday he will attend the Group of Seven leaders summit in Canada this month after receiving an invitation from the new Canadian premier. 'Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada,' Modi said in a statement posted on social media platform X. 'Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month… look forward to our meeting at the summit.' India is not a member of the G7 but Modi has been invited to attend previous summits since 2019, when France invited him to Biarritz. Modi also congratulated Carney in April on his election win, suggesting hopes of a possible reset of fraught relations between New Delhi and Ottawa. 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,' Modi said on Friday. Ties between Canada and India were strained following accusations of New Delhi's involvement in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh, claims India denied. G7 glosses over tariffs, pledges to cut global economic imbalances Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside India. That community includes activists for 'Khalistan', a fringe separatist movement seeking an independent state for the religious minority carved out of Indian territory. Ottawa previously accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner, and targeting other Sikh activists connected to the movement. India has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, which sent diplomatic relations into freefall with both nations last year expelling a string of top diplomats. The Khalistan campaign dates back to India's 1947 independence and has been blamed for the assassination of a prime minister and the bombing of a passenger jet. It has been a bitter issue between India and several Western nations with large Sikh populations. New Delhi demands stricter action against the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India, with key leaders accused of 'terrorism'.

ETPB announces Sikh pilgrimage schedule despite Pakistan-India tensions
ETPB announces Sikh pilgrimage schedule despite Pakistan-India tensions

Express Tribune

time5 days ago

  • Express Tribune

ETPB announces Sikh pilgrimage schedule despite Pakistan-India tensions

Listen to article The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has announced the schedule for two major Sikh religious events to be held in Pakistan this month, despite ongoing tensions and the continued suspension of cross-border movement between India and Pakistan. According to the official schedule, the death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Jor Mela) will be commemorated on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. The death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be observed on June 29 at his samadhi, also located in Lahore. Sikh pilgrims from around the world, including India, have been invited to attend. However, due to strained diplomatic ties, India is unlikely to issue the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Indian pilgrims to travel to Pakistan, according to sources. Pakistan has expressed its readiness to facilitate cross-border pilgrimage. The ETPB has finalised all necessary arrangements for potential arrivals, including security, accommodation, and transportation across key religious sites. If India grants travel permissions, the first group of pilgrims is expected to arrive on foot via the Wagah Border on Monday, June 9. The group will begin their pilgrimage at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and visit local gurdwaras during a two-day stay. The pilgrims will then proceed to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, followed by a visit to Hassan Abdal on June 11. They are scheduled to stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 12 and are expected to visit the nearby shrine of Muslim saint Baba Wali Qandhari. On June 13, the group will travel to Narowal to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, staying until June 14. They will proceed to Lahore via Gurdwara Rori Sahib in Eminabad on June 15. The main religious ceremony for Guru Arjan Dev Ji's martyrdom, including the Bhog Akhand Path Sahib ritual, will be held on June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib. Pilgrims will remain in Lahore on June 17 and return to India via Wagah on June 18. A second group of Indian pilgrims is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, June 22, for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They will begin their visit in Nankana Sahib on June 23 before travelling to Hassan Abdal via Farooqabad on June 24. The group will stay at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on June 25, visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on June 26–27, and travel to Lahore on June 28. The main ceremony at the samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will take place on June 29, featuring the Bhog Akhand Path Sahib. Pilgrims will spend June 30 in Lahore and depart for India on July 1, 2025. ETPB officials said all arrangements have been made to ensure a secure, comfortable, and spiritually fulfilling experience for pilgrims, contingent on Indian approval for cross-border travel.

Youm-e-Takbeer: JI chief pays tributes to Dr A Q Khan
Youm-e-Takbeer: JI chief pays tributes to Dr A Q Khan

Business Recorder

time29-05-2025

  • Business Recorder

Youm-e-Takbeer: JI chief pays tributes to Dr A Q Khan

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman Wednesday paying glowing tributes to the services rendered by Dr Abdul Qadeer (AQ) Khan, said Pakistan's nuclear capability, developed under the leadership of Dr Khan, is an unforgettable gift to the nation that has empowered Pakistanis to hold their heads high globally. JI chief said this here during JI leadership's visit to the grave of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan for offering prayers on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer. Hafiz stressed that the country must not be intimidated by global powers seeking to divide and weaken Pakistan. 'If Modi fires bullets, we will respond with the Ghauri missile,' he declared. Hafiz said the youth must reject despair and unite against those spreading hopelessness and division. 'This country is ours, and we are its protectors. We still have to liberate Kashmir,' he stated, adding that any dialogue with India must include Kashmir on the agenda, otherwise 'there should be no talks at all.' Recalling the events of 1998, Rehman said that after India conducted nuclear tests, anxiety spread across Pakistan. 'While the government hesitated due to international pressure and threats of sanctions, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba held rallies across the country to press the government to respond,' he said. 'On May 28, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests and became invincible.' He noted that while major global powers continue to expand their nuclear arsenals, it was Dr Khan and his team who ensured Pakistan's place among the nuclear powers. 'Today, we are here to remember and honour this national hero, whose contributions made Pakistan strong and respected worldwide,' he said. Criticizing India, Hafiz said that despite never accepting Pakistan's existence, India has faced consistent defeat. 'When India bombed mosques and civilian areas, we responded strongly. The jets India boasted about were shot down now they're debating whether four Rafales fell or six.' He mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches as empty bravado aimed at misleading the Indian public. 'Modi is bragging, while 680 million Indians still lack access to basic sanitation,' he said. 'The more he blusters, the fewer votes he'll get.' Rehman also condemned India's treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, Dalits, and Sikhs. 'India is committing atrocities under the guise of Hindutva. The Sikh movement is gaining momentum, and India has lost credibility by targeting Sikhs in countries like the US and Canada.' On the situation in Kashmir, he decried the brutal violations of human rights and said India of trying to turn the Muslim majority into a minority. 'This is terrorism and the world must take a stand,' he said. 'Israel, India's close ally, is committing atrocities against children in Palestine. After the Pahalgam incident, Israel even assisted India.' He criticised the U.S. for its silence during Indian aggression against Pakistan, only stepping in for ceasefire talks once Pakistan retaliated. 'If peace is to be achieved, India must withdraw its forces from Kashmir and let Kashmiris exercise their right to self-determination.' Lashing out at the government's handling of Youm-e-Takbeer celebrations, Rehman condemned the exclusion of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan from official advertisements, saying the ruling PML-N prioritised images of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his family. 'It's shameful,' he said, noting that even former rulers did not attend the national hero's funeral. Responding to a question, he called the release of Jamaat-e-Islami's Dr Azhar by Bangladesh's Supreme Court a victory for justice. He urged the government to foster national unity and resolve the crises in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store