Amritsar, September 18 : A Sikh Jatha (group) comprising nearly 500 devotees left for Pakistan on Thursday morning by train for the death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru.

They will observe the occasion at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, situated in Pakistan’s Narowal district on September 22.

Besides Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, the Jatha would also visit pay respects at various others historical Sikh shrines including Punjab Sahib, Dera Sahib, Nankana Sahib, Sancha Saudah Sahib and Rahra Sahib during their 10-day tour to Pakistan.

Devotees, on this occasion, urged the Governments of India and Pakistan to abolish provisions for visas for the pilgrims and demanded a safe passage to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib form the Dera Baba Nanak of Gurdaspur district.

Reiterating the long pending demands of the Sikhs of corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the premier governing body of the Sikhs, Avtar Singh Makkar said, “The SGPC had already corresponded with the government of India and received the assurances by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. But till dating nothing concert had been done by the government.”

Shri Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee has sent this Jatha to Pakistan for the death anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev for the first time. (ANI)