Lahore, Oct 10 : Sikh pilgrims celebrated the 474th birth anniversary of Guru Ram Das on Thursday amid singing of the shabad, “Dhan Dhan Ram Das Guru Jin Siria Tinay Savaria” in Amrit Vela at the Chuna Mandi Gurdwara here.

During the event, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman announced several packages for Sikh devotees.

Lahore, Oct 8: Indian Sikhs have demanded of the Pakistan government to allow the community to celebrate all the eight major festivals in the country. At present the Pakistan Government allows the community to celebrate only six festivals, except the two, viz. the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gubind Singh and Saka Nankana Sahib.

Putting forth this demand, Jathedar Gopal Singh Janiya, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar thanked the Pakistan government for increasing the number of Sikh events from four to six.

Janiya is the party leader of Sikh pilgrims that reached Pakistan on Monday to commemorate the 474th birthday of the fourth guru in Sikhism, Guru Ram Das at Chuna Mandi Gurdwara.

Lahore, Oct 6 : Pakistan’s Law Minister Farooq H. Naek today said that President Asif Ali Zardari can decide on the case of Sarabjit Singh, who was arrested on charges of terrorism and is facing the death penalty.

Naek, while talking to media persons at Kot Lakhpat jail here, said that he met Sarabjit on the directive of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Zardari.

He said that he asked the jail authorities to provide details of Sarabjit’s case, adding President can exercise his power to release any prisoner under article 45 of the constitution.

Lahore, Oct 6 : Local tribesmen in Orakzai Agency have reportedly decided to ban outsiders’ entry and directed that anyone found providing shelter to “outsiders” will be shot dead and his house set on fire.

The tribesmen made the announcement during grand jirgas held in their respective areas on Sunday, and also decided to form local lashkars to combat Taliban.

Besides, the “Ali Khel” jirga also banned the ‘brandishing of arms’ within the territorial limits of the Agency, the Daily Times quoted a Express News report as saying.

Lahore, Oct 6: Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner in Pakistan whom his family claims has been a victim of mistaken identity, will not be pardoned if found guilty, said Pakistan Law Minister Farooq H. Naek who is expected to him today at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail.

The Ministry of Law and Human Rights would review the case of Sarabjit Singh according to the law and Constitution and “he would not be pardoned if found guilty”, said Naek while briefing press persons at the Regional Directorate of Human Rights.

Lahore, Oct 5 : A Pakistani delegation will soon visit and examine the Baglihar Dam, built in Indian territory after years of opposition from Pakistan.

The delegation will be visiting the Dam on India’s invitation, said a TV report.

The Indian Indus Water Commission had been informed that a Pakistani delegation would visit India in the third or fourth week of October, the Daily Times quoted Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah as saying.