The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) headed by Sushma Swaraj on Saturday, 15 December, directed the passport issuing authority to take appropriate action in the case pertaining to the missing of 23 passports of Sikh pilgrims, who wanted to visit gurudwaras in Pakistan, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying.
Twenty-three Indian passports of Sikh pilgrims who wanted to visit gurudwaras in Pakistan have gone missing from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, reported The Times of India.
The matter, which has led to a security scare, was brought to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs after some of the passport holders filed FIRs.
According to the report, the ministry has now moved to revoke the passports and taken up the issue with the Pakistan High Commission.
Pakistan had issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims in order to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev that were held in the country from 21-30 November. The 23 Sikhs whose passports have gone missing were reportedly supposed to travel with that group and had applied for visas.
Pakistan has denied its involvement in the incident, instead blaming a Delhi-based travel agent who claimed to have submitted the documents to the Pakistan High Commission. However, on returning to the High Comission, he was allegedly told that they did not have the documents, says the report.
“This is a serious issue and we have taken all necessary action to prevent any misuse of these passports," an official source told The Times of India.
(With inputs from ANI and The Times of India)
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