India halts Qadri’s visa after Kashmir statement

PAT chief was to visit neighbouring country to deliver religious lectures

LAHORE: India has halted processing the visa of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri after he issued a video statement on February 5, the Kashmir Day, supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

Dr Qadri was to go to India on a religious tour to give lectures in various cities this month. According to the PAT chief, he had been invited by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh through renowned Indian religious scholar Kalbe Jawad.

The visit was for promoting Pakistan-India peace, trust building and encouraging interreligious harmony. During his two-week visit, he was to address various ceremonies in Lucknow, Kolkata, Ajmer Sharif, Delhi and Ahmedabad besides attending the inaugural ceremony of the Quran Encyclopedia.

Dr Qadri was issued the visa on directives of the Indian foreign ministry. However, on the Kashmir Day, Dr Qadri in his video statement supported the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. It was in the wake of this video that Indian authorities stopped his visa process.

Speaking to Daily Express, the PAT chairperson in Ahmedabad, Nad-e-Ali, said Qadri’s visit had been cancelled due to strenuous Pakistan-India ties. The Minhajul Quran said the visit had not yet been officially cancelled. However, in the existing situation there was a security risk in Dr Qadri’s visit.

“On security grounds, the Indian home ministry did not give clearance to Dr Tahirul Qadri. And now Dr Qadri has been advised against the visit as India has started spewing venom against Pakistan after the killing of Indian military personnel in Pulwama,” said an official.