Sikhs to be given equal opportunities in armed forces: Aziz

Amritsar, June 15 (UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today assured visiting SGPC members that problems of the Sikh community would be taken up on a priority basis by his government and they would face no discrimination with regard to recruitment into the armed forces.

Mr Aziz gave this assurance in Lahore today while speaking at a seminar on Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, whose 400th martyrdom anniversary falls tomorrow. The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).

Guru Arjan Dev attained martyrdom on the banks of the Ravi river in Lahore.

The seminar was attended by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar, who returned today after a day's stay in Lahore.

Refering to the assurances given by Mr Aziz at the seminar, Jathedar Makkar said the Pakistan government had decided to set up a university named after the first Sikh Guru, Nanak Dev, who was born at Nankana Sahib. Mr Aziz also assured that problems of the Sikh community would be taken up on a priority basis by his government, he added.

The Pakistan Prime Minister released a Rs five denomination commemorative stamp to mark the fourth centenary of Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom.

The SGPC chief said the Pakistan government has agreed to consider his demand to allow the Indian High Commission to open its visa centre in Lahore. ''This will be of immense help to those who want to visit India through the rail or road routes, as presently visas to India are being issued from Islamabad,'' he added.

He said the Pakistan government had given its nod for developing Panja Sahib as a model town. Panja Sahib is associated with Guru Nanak and is an important place of pilgrimage.

The SGPC chief said Mr Aziz had also agreed remove the restriction on the number of devotees who visited Pakistan with SGPC 'jathas'.''Mr Azia told us to bring any number of devotees,'' he added.

The seminar was also attended by Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister, Pervez Elahi, PSGPC chief Bishan Singh, Pakistan Waqf Board Chairman several countries.

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