Modi government has allowed popular Pakistani singer Adnan Sami to stay in India for an indefinite period on his plea to stay back on humanitarian grounds.
The government on Tuesday conveyed to the Lok Sabha that Sami has been exempted from deportation proceedings under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act and would be allowed to stay till further orders.
Lahore-born, Adnan Sami had first arrived in India in 2001 on a visitor's visa with the validity of one year which was issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
His foray in Bollywood catapulted him to top singer slot with hit songs - 'Kabhi Tow Nazar Milao' and 'Thodi Si Tow Lift Karaa De' in early 2000s and Sami became a household name in India. His recent qawwali track "Bhar do Jholi Meri" in mega hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan has also got rave reviews.
Sami's demand in Bollywood and music vidoes led to his extended stay in India. When his Pakistani passport issued in 2010 expired on May 26, 2015 and was not renewed by the Pakistan government, Sami had to approach the Indian government with the request to legalise his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.
After going through Sami's representation carefully and seeing unblemished records of his stay, foreigners division of the union home ministry agreed to waive off various clauses of section 3A of the Foreigners Act, 1946 in public interest.
"Adnan Sami Khan, son of late Arshad Sami Khan is exempted from deportation proceedings. This order shall remain valid untill further orders are issued on the subject," the order issued by union home ministry said.
