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

Javed Akhtar comes out in support of Nayantara Sehgal's decision to return Sahitya award

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

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / India News / Article / Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit disappointed by cancellation of Ghulam Ali's concert

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

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast