No dates: Anupam Kher declines visa offer

ISLAMABAD: A day after Indian artist Anupam Kher said he was denied a visa to visit Pakistan for the Karachi Literature Festival, he said on Wednesday that he has now been offered one.  However, the veteran actor said he has “given away those dates” and won’t be travelling, Indian media reported. Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit called Kher and said his visa was ready. “@AnupamPkher you are always welcome Sir. You are a great artiste; we respect and admire you,” Basit tweeted today. Replying to him, Kher tweeted, “Thank you Mr. @abasitpak1 for your call & offering me visa to visit Karachi. I appreciate it. Unfortunately I’ve given away those dates now.” The actor was to attend the three-day Karachi Literature Festival which begins on Friday. However, while 17 out of the 18 Indians who were due to go for the event, received their visas, the 60-year-old said he was “singled out”.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th,  2016.