E-Paper
Agra admin denies visa to 150 Pakistanis planning ‘urs’ visit
The Agra administration has denied visa to 150 Pakistani residents planning to visit Agra to attend the ‘urs’ at a dargah in the city on January 25 and 26, ahead of US President Barack Obama’s proposed visit later this month.
The Agra administration has denied visa to 150 Pakistani residents planning to visit Agra to attend the ‘urs’ at a dargah in the city on January 25 and 26, ahead of US President Barack Obama’s proposed visit later this month.
The rejection of permission has been forwarded to the intelligence unit for further action.
Although the district administration has not received the final schedule of Obama’s visit yet, a tour of Agra has not been ruled out and the administration does not want to take chances on security measures. “Due to the proposed visit of US President Barack Obama this month end, the ‘recommendation’ has been forwarded to the intelligence unit not to allow the visa to 150 Pakistani residents planning to visit city to attend the ‘urs,” SSP Agra Rajesh D Modak said on Saturday.
The annual ‘urs’ is to be held at a dargah in Agra’s Rui Ki Mandi area. The Pakistani citizens were planning to attend the ‘urs’, confirmed Hafiz Arshad Khan, ‘khadim’ at the dargah. “Zayareens (devotees) come on their own as there is no invitation extended nor any formal invite is given to Pakistani citizens. It was about 10 years ago when visitors from Pakistan came to attend ‘urs’. We are not concerned if these visitors are granted visa,” Khan told HT.
