The laying of the foundation stone of the dual carriageway by the CM’s of Indian and Pakistani Punjab today between Nankana Sahib and Wagah may necessitate alterations in Sikhs’ daily prayer. Once the highway is built and the 10 buses begin their journey across the border next Baisakhi on April 13, Sikhs will be able to visit the birthplace of their founder unhindered.Every devout Sikh seeks free access to Nankana Sahib in his prayer everyday and it has been part of the liturgy for at least the past six decades, officially sanctioned by the SGPC.Later, chief ministers Amarinder Singh and Pervaiz Elahi, addressed a joint rally at a public ground where a spate of announcements brought on more smiles — a gold palanquin for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, two roads worth nearly Rs 60 crore and the creation of Punjabi research centres at Lahore and Patiala.Meanwhile, the 83 prisoners who were released by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf yesterday may accompany Singh when he crosses the Wagah border tomorrow. Announcing this, the Chief Minister of Pakistani Punjab said all attempts are being made in this regard.‘‘In case there is any delay in facilitating the crossover of the prisoners, we would like to delay Amarinder’s departure as well,’’ he said to an amused audience. The prisoners had been languishing in Pakistan jails after being deported from Iran where they ended up because of unscrupulous travel agents.
