Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee’s controversialsecretary-general Gopal Singh Chawla has been removed and he is not part of thedelegation which is holding the second round of talks with India in Wagah, asenior official said Sunday.
Officials from India and Pakistan Sunday held the secondround of talks to discuss draft agreement and operationalisation of theKartarpur corridor.
The second round of talks, which were scheduled on April 2,was cancelled by India after Pakistan nominated Khalistani separatists in the10-member PSGPC to facilitate Sikh pilgrims after opening of the corridor.
India voiced concerns over the presence of Khalistaniseparatists in the committee and said it will wait for a response fromIslamabad on the issue and will not go ahead with the meeting.
“Chawla has been removed from the secretary generalpost and he is no longer a member of the PSGPC. Chawla is also not part of thePakistani delegation which is taking part in the second round of talks inWagah,” a senior official of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) toldPTI.
The ETPB is a statutory board that manages religiousproperties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs who had migrated to India followingthe partition.
The official said the PSGPC Pardhan (president) Tara Singhhas also been removed and the new election will be held soon to elect newpresident and the secretary-general.
“Apparently, removal of Chawla is a damage control stepby the Imran Khan government,” official said, adding that he had become socontroversial that the Khan government was forced to revamp the whole PSGPC.
Chawla was seen with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar JavedBajwa at the goundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor in Narowal,125-km from Lahore, in November last.