Pakistani singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was deported at the Hyderabad airport when he reached there to perform for a New Year Eve event on Thursday.
According to the report in Times Of India, Ghazal Maestro Ustad landed in Hyderabad to perform at Falaknuma Palace on New year Eve but was shocked when he was deported at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport(RGIA).
After landing in Hyderabad on an Emirates flight, he was barred entry due to technical flaws and was asked to return to Abu Dhabi.
The organisers of the event, Lakshya Events & Talent Management Pvt Ltd, confirmed that he did not perform in the city on Thursday, as reported in Indian Express.
This is the second time the Pakistani singer has faced problem in an Indian airport. In 2011, he along with his troupe were detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, for allegedly carrying foreign currency. This issue was resolved later.
Immigration authorities at RGIA told TOI, "According to the immigration rules,Pakistani Nationals cannot enter India through any city except Delhi,Mumbai,Kolkata and Chennai.That is the reason he was asked to return to Abu Dhabi and to travel though valid entry points.''
''If Pakistani Nationals enters through any other airport except the the four metros,his or her travel to India cannot be recorded so it is mandatory that they should stick to the four valid ports. This system has been put in to place monitor the moment of Pakistani Nationals in our country.'',the officials told TOI.