Rahat turned back from Hyderabad airport

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Renowned Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was denied entry by immigration officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in suburban Shamshabad on Thursday following a "technical flaw" arising out of his flying directly to Hyderabad from Abu Dhabi.
The qawwali maestro arrived in Hyderabad by a flight but immigration officials sent him back citing "technical flaws" since according to immigration rules, Pakistanis are allowed entry into India only through the four international airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota and Chennai. The Pakistani singer was to perform at a New Year's eve Sufi music event at Taj Falaknuma Palace on Thursday evening.
According to official sources, the singer was asked to return to Abu Dhabi and travel to Hyderabad through the valid entry points. "If a Pakistani national enters through any other airport, except the four metros, his or her travel to India cannot be recorded. Hence, it is mandatory that they stick to the four airports," the sources said.
Following the intervention of the event's organisers who reportedly got in touch with top officials in New Delhi, Rahat, who was sent back to Abu Dhabi, took a flight to New Delhi later in the evening and then a chartered flight to Hyderabad. The event which was to start at 8pm was put off till his arrival late in the evening, sources said.
The popular singer, who has a mass following in India as well, had also run into trouble with Indian authorities in 2011 when he and his troupe were detained at the Delhi International Airport for alleged foreign exchange violations.
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