Although Indian actresses and performers have been granted Pakistani visas after some hiccups, who were originally scheduled to perform on the eve of Basant at the Royal Palm Club in Lahore, the reasons behind the delay in visa processing is still a mystery to the organisers.
While speaking to Business Recorder from Islamabad over phone on Friday, Rauf Chaudhry, Additional Secretary of Interior Ministry, said that visas have been issued by the Pakistani Embassy in India to all the Indian artistes who intend to visit Pakistan.
However, he refused to comment on reasons behind the delay. "I know is that everyone who had applied for a visa is given one. I don't know if there was any delay involved in the process," he stressed.
It may be recalled that Indian artistes, including Shilpa Seti, Akshe Kumar and Twinkle Khana, were originally scheduled to arrive in Lahore on February 12 to take part in a Basant gala on February 14, arranged by Royal Palm Club.
However, for some unknown reasons their visas were not issued, hence, the show was rescheduled to February 19 and now the Indian artistes would arrive in Lahore on February 18.
Hashim Butt of Royal Palm Club confirmed the rescheduling of the event and said that he was unaware of the facts behind the delay in visa processing.
He disclosed that the Interior Ministry had issued and sent NOCs to the Pakistani Embassy in India, permitting them to issue visas to the Indian Artistes.
"For some reasons, the Interior Ministry issued instructions to the Pakistani Embassy in India, not issue visas to intended visitors. The matter was later resolved and visas were issued," he added.
There were rumours in the showbiz circle that the Interior Ministry deliberately delayed the issuing of visas in reaction to the statement of Indian Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Amrinder Singh that 'there should not have been a boundary between Pakistan and India'.
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