New Delhi: Pakistan today expressed&nbsp;disappointment over the cancellation of ghazal maestro Ghulam&nbsp;Ali's concert in Mumbai after Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt&nbsp;it.
Reacting to the development, Pakistan High Commissioner&nbsp;Abdul Basit said cultural exchanges are important elements of&nbsp;bilateral ties which his country "encourages".
The Pakistani singer was scheduled to perform in Mumbai on Friday.&nbsp;
"We do encourage artistes to visit both sides and perform.&nbsp;As far as Pakistan is concerned, our policy is very&nbsp;constructive, very positive. When Indian artistes go to&nbsp;Pakistan, they do not come across such opposition," Basit told&nbsp;reporters on the sidelines of an event.
Organisers of Ali's concert in Mumbai announced&nbsp;cancellation of the event after Shiv Sena threatened to&nbsp;disrupt it, warning that no artiste from Pakistan will be&nbsp;allowed to perform in the city till terror emanating from&nbsp;across the border is stopped.&nbsp;
They announced the decision following a meeting with Shiv&nbsp;Sena president Uddhav Thackeray this evening at 'Matoshree',&nbsp;the Thackeray residence in suburban Bandra.&nbsp;
"It (cultural exchange) is one of the most important&nbsp;elements. It should be encouraged," Basit said.
The decision to cancel the event was taken despite an&nbsp;assurance by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that&nbsp;adequate protection would be provided to Ali.
Minister of State for Home Ranjeet Patil had said that&nbsp;action would be taken against anybody who tried to take law&nbsp;into his or her own hands. "The organisers or the management&nbsp;of Shanmukhananda Hall (the venue) have not lodged&nbsp;complaint...once they do, action will be taken," he said.
In New Delhi, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi voiced&nbsp;disagreement with Sena, saying, "This is not justified. Ghulam&nbsp;Ali is a messenger of peace. Such messengers of peace should&nbsp;not face restrictions of boundaries."

Reacting to ghazal maestro Ghulam&nbsp;Ali's concert being cancelled in Mumbai,&nbsp;Pakistan High Commissioner&nbsp;Abdul Basit said cultural exchanges are important elements of&nbsp;bilateral ties which his country 'encourages'

Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit disappointed by cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert

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Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit disappointed by cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert

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