FAISALABAD — A group of 92 Pakistani Sikh pilgrims intending to visit religious sites in India was barred from boarding a commercial flight at Faisalabad International Airport late Friday after immigration authorities cited the absence of a federal No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The passengers, who held valid Indian visas, were scheduled to travel to New Delhi via a transit stop in the United Arab Emirates. However, officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) denied boarding clearance at the departure terminal, citing regulatory stipulations that require travelers on this specific transit corridor to furnish an official NOC from Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, as well as confirmed return itineraries.
The enforcement prompted immediate demonstrations by the affected passengers in the international departure hall. Despite discussions with airport authorities, the aircraft departed as scheduled, leaving the entire delegation grounded. The pilgrims subsequently retrieved their baggage and returned to their respective hometowns across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Community representatives highlighted significant logistical and financial disruption, noting that the group had collectively invested substantial resources in non-refundable transit bookings and accommodation. Civilian passport holders had reportedly proceeded under the standard understanding that verified visas and return documentation constituted complete travel clearance.
The air transit route was necessitated by ongoing operational restrictions along the Attari-Wagah land border corridor, which remains closed to conventional bilateral passenger movement following heightened security protocols. As a result, overland passage—typically the primary route for cross-border religious delegations—was unavailable.
In Amritsar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex administrative body managing Sikh holy shrines, raised formal objections to the stoppage. The SGPC characterized the intervention as an administrative impediment to religious freedom, noting that the Indian High Commission had duly vetted and approved visas for 92 out of an initial applicant pool of 104 individuals.
The visas issued to the delegation remain valid until October 10. Representatives of the group have petitioned the Ministry of Interior to expedite review of the pending clearances, indicating that travelers intend to re-book itineraries should the required governmental approvals be granted prior to the document expiry date.
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