Anupam Kher denied Pakistan visa to attend Karachi literature festival

New Delhi : Veteran Indian actor Anupam Kherr, who was denied a visa to Pakistan on Tuesday, said the Pakistan High Commission is lying by saying that he never applied for a visa for his visit to Karachi for a literature festival. A Pakistani diplomat here however said that he has “not submitted” any visa application.

Anupam told a TV channel: “… I don’t know why I have been denied (the visa). But this is true that I have been denied the visa.”

The actor wondered if it is his point of view on Kashmiri Pandits or his pro Prime Minister Narendra Modi stance which led to the denial of the visa.

Manzoor Ali Memon, a diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission, however, told IANS: “He (Anupam Kher) has not submitted (any) visa application. Please check out from him if he has any receipt.”

The three-day Karachi literary festival will commence from Friday.

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“Didn’t Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs red flag my name to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi? Why hide facts deliberately? Pakistan High Commission should know their own rules. #KarachiLitFest had given my name to authorities 1 month back and have my name in every poster.”

Moreover, the actor, who was chosen to be conferred the Padma Bhushan — India’s third highest civilian award — said he feels “bad for all those people who were looking forward to meet me in Pakistan and vice versa”.

“Sorry to them. Hopefully one day,” he added.

Manzoor Ali Memon, a diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission, told IANS: “He (Anupam Kher) has not submitted (any) visa application. Please check out from him if he has any receipt.”

This, Anupam, said on a TV channel, is a “laughable explanation”.

He said he wanted to be in Pakistan to meet the people as exchange of ideas is important.

“It is important to discuss about books, countries… I wanted to talk about my country as well, the problems of Kashmiri Pandits, and also speak about anti-terrorism — an issue that even Pakistan is suffering with,” he said.

Later on Tuesday, Anupam will address the media at his acting institute in Mumbai.