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Feroze Khan put on Pakistan "black list"

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has put the veteran Bollywood actor, Feroze Khan on "black list," following his reported controversial remarks at a function in Lahore last month on the occasion of the premiere of his brother Akbar Khan's film Taj Mahal.

As a consequence, Mr. Khan would not be allowed entry into Pakistan and the Pakistan missions abroad would be instructed not to entertain any visa requests by him or on his behalf. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told The Hindu that "Mr. Khan has abused Pakistani hospitality with his derogatory remarks at the premiere function of Taj Mahal and it was not acceptable".

Ms. Aslam maintained that Pakistan followed an "open visa policy" and Mr. Khan along with several others from Bollywood were welcomed to the country to coincide with the Taj Mahal premiere. "But his conduct was unbecoming", she said.

"The President's House has taken serious notice of his remarks which were widely covered in the Indian and Pakistani media and directed the authorities to blacklist him and impose ban on his next entry into Pakistan," ARY channel said quoting sources.

Feroze Khan's reported remarks during the premiere of the film Taj Mahal in Lahore set off a heated verbal exchange between him and a local compere.

"I am a proud Indian. India is a secular country. Muslims there are making lot of progress. Our President is a Muslim, Prime Minister a Sikh. Pakistan was made in the name of Islam but look how the Muslims are killing each other. Our films are so powerful that your Government could not stop them for long," he was quoted as saying by a Pakistani daily.

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Feroze Khan put on Pakistan "black list"

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