‘Pak doors open’: Pilgrim-turned-convert’s invite clip sparks row

Amritsar: Sarabjit Kaur, a Sikh pilgrim who converted to Islam and married a local man after going missing from a jatha for Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations in Nov last year, has released a new video urging devotees to visit Pakistan.The one-minute clip shows the 48-year-old woman standing near a highway, welcoming Sikh devotees to Nankana Sahib and other holy sites. "Our doors are open for everyone, and we welcome people from Indian Punjab on behalf of Pakistan," she says, identifying herself as Sarabnoor, and denying reports of forced religious conversions in the country. This message stands in stark contrast to her previous statements. In one of her earlier videos, she used provocative language against Sikhs and questioned their presence in Pakistan, remarking: "Why do you come here? If people in Pakistan unite, their (Sikhs') livelihood will be affected." Intelligence sources suggest these conflicting narratives — from hostile to conciliatory—may indicate she is being used to gauge public reaction. Officials are investigating the possibility that she is acting under the influence of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to test the sentiments of the Sikh community. MSID:: 130439955 413 |