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Pakistani singer Salma Agha to get lifelong Indian visa

A senior Home Ministry official said: "We have decided to grant her the OCI card after following the due procedure."

31 May, 2016

Pakistani-British singer and actress Salma Agha will be receiving an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card that will offer her multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India and exemption from reporting to police.

As reported by Times of India, a senior Home Ministry official said: "We have decided to grant Salma Agha the OCI card after following the due procedure."

As the Home Ministry took the decision to grant her OCI card, the Nikaah actress also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh to express her gratitude for the gesture.

Agha had applied for the OCI card a few days ago and her application was approved after taking into consideration various aspects, officials said. The 59-year-old artist is a citizen of United Kingdom.

Also read: Adnan Sami celebrates being an Indian

As per rules, a foreign national who is a child, grandchild or a great grandchild of Indian citizen is eligible for registration as OCI card holder. There are few other conditions to get OCI card.

However, no person, who or either of whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh shall be eligible for registration as an OCI card holder.

Agha, in her request, claimed that though she was born in Pakistan, she is a British citizen and hence, her request should be looked into. Among others who have been staying in India and working on employment visa are Katrina Kaif (UK citizen), Deepti Naval (US citizen) and Yana Gupta (Czech citizen).

She added that she receives a lot of love and adulation from India, adding that she could have become Indian citizen anytime as her forefathers hail from Punjab’s Amritsar city.

Comments

Asif May 31, 2016 01:17pm

India is so vibrant and kind that it recognize the talent and welcome them with hasselfree process. Thank you india for giving employee meant to many Pakistanis. In Pakistan we show ur films and make money to feed our family.

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Sunil May 31, 2016 01:20pm

Why then calling Pakistani singer? She must have taken dual Citizenship of India and UK, that is why she is getting the OCI card.

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Madhusudan May 31, 2016 01:20pm

Fawad khan too should try for indian citizenship.he has great future here in india.

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lafanga May 31, 2016 01:24pm

Good luck Salma Agha and stay clear of Mumbai !

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pkp May 31, 2016 01:33pm

We welcome Salma Aaga. She is a natural citizen of India since her parents are from India. There must be some reason that why so many people want Indian citizenship. It is in history and well known fact that we never had shown interest in cultural invasion/imperialism. We always remain in our Political & geographical boundaries. India has never attacked in any country since its inceptions. This is the real taste of India.

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AIZ May 31, 2016 01:38pm

good for her

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Sachin May 31, 2016 01:39pm

Salma Aagha next after Adnan Sami... Many more in a queue to come the great country!

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PUNE- India May 31, 2016 01:40pm

Pakistan must be kept compulsory rule to pass exam about "what is Two nation theory" to every artist before come to India

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Dilip Thorat May 31, 2016 01:42pm

Wonder if any Indians (Muslims specially) interested to get Pakistan citizen.

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Fariha May 31, 2016 01:42pm

Great.

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Thoroughthinker May 31, 2016 01:45pm

Marriage of convenience!

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Feroz May 31, 2016 01:45pm

Salma Agha has managed to get the OCI card because she has claimed she has never been a citizen of Pakistan.

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M. Saeed Awan May 31, 2016 01:55pm

Artists from South Asian countries (especially Pakistan) are interested to get Indian citizenship or staying longer in India due to Indian dominance in culture (Film). Otherwise I don't think India offers anything better than Pakistan.

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Rajesh May 31, 2016 02:07pm

man-made demarcation lines, or artificial boundries or a few religious crack pots cannot stop free human minds...

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shyam May 31, 2016 02:14pm

I was a bit emotional as soon as I got to see her picture. Madam, Long time no see..Miss you in India.

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Rahul May 31, 2016 02:23pm

One thing I must say... she looks beautiful, even at this age too!!

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Rahul May 31, 2016 02:38pm

@Madhusudan - Wait for a few years more and Fawad Khan will apply too. Adnan Sami, Sonya Jehan and now Salma Agha have become citizens of India. Soon other Pakistani artists will follow.

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Shaleen May 31, 2016 02:43pm

Welcome to family .. (Officially.. ) .. :)

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Kavita May 31, 2016 02:46pm

Welcome, Salma.

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tinkoo May 31, 2016 02:55pm

@Dilip Thorat hahahaha

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ABC May 31, 2016 03:02pm

@Dilip Thorat You (Indians) are badly obsessed with Pakistan. Read the news again

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aks May 31, 2016 03:07pm

Talented Muslims find acceptance, opportunity and love in India......undercutting the very logic of forming a separate country for Muslims!!

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Ady May 31, 2016 03:10pm

@Dilip Thorat it'll be warmest welcome

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Ady May 31, 2016 03:11pm

I thought she was already Indian national due to her good Bollywood career

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tinkoo May 31, 2016 03:17pm

There are so many positive news for India...Fastest growing economy of the world, Investment made by India in its region- Bangladesh, nepal, Afganistan, Iran.... Real global power house.....

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Shyam Kokku May 31, 2016 03:20pm

Welcome!

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Mady May 31, 2016 03:25pm

I believe Salma Agha already stay in Mumbai with daughter, Sasha Agha (debuted in Bollywood movie 'Aurangzeb').

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Satyameva Jayate May 31, 2016 03:42pm

Welcome, Ms. Agha. Love begets Love.

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Rashid Sultan May 31, 2016 03:58pm

I wonder why she didn't do it a lot earlier? India should allow anyone born in Pakistan but having patriarchal or matriarchal antecedents born in what is today India to become OCI. Likewise Pakistan. I know of people who emigrated across the border drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe and took their children with them who had no say in the matter. So if the children of such lineage want to return to their ancestral geography they must be allowed to do so.

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Rashid Sultan May 31, 2016 03:59pm

@Madhusudan And what about the other brilliant Pakistani artists who are currently in India or for that matter in any other vocation or career?

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imdadali May 31, 2016 04:16pm

she is great actress of the asia, her requested was approved definitely cause pleasure for her and also.

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Zak May 31, 2016 05:07pm

Indians are so desperate to get Pakistani artists. Even giving life long visas without it being asked. We are undoubtedly the superior nation.

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Karma May 31, 2016 05:24pm

..Bingo

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dawn May 31, 2016 05:43pm

Most performers seem to have a wish to relocate!

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anon May 31, 2016 05:49pm

@Dilip Thorat "Wonder if any Indians (Muslims specially) interested to get Pakistan citizen." I am sure there are a few who do apply for Pakistani citizenship for a variety of reasons (marriage to a Pakistani citizen, and so on). But as upholders of the basic values and traditions of a civilization that has for long thrived on openness and assimilation of the best ideas from anywhere and everywhere, we should not hold it against them. We welcome people like Adnan Sami and Salma Agha with open arms, and at the same time we can and should wish those who opt to leave for any other country (US, UK, or even Pakistan) the best, with a large hearted "Fare thee well!" No?

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Deepak Kumar May 31, 2016 05:49pm

@Zak I will only quote greatest poet Ghalib here - "Hamko Maloom hai Jannat ki hakeekat Ghalib ! " "Dil ko bahlane ke liye, ye khayal achcha hai"

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Hasan sahab May 31, 2016 05:50pm

@Sachin lol, while indians are lining outside the US embassies dreaming of getting an H1-B visa for a low paying IT job in the US

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DG May 31, 2016 05:54pm

@M. Saeed Awan Haha if that makes you happy

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anon May 31, 2016 05:55pm

@Rashid Sultan "I wonder ...must be allowed to do so." A very sensible approach! After all, what are borders? Did our ancestors, who left Africa in wave after wave tens of thousands of years ago to populate the earth, know about or recognize nations, citizenship, national borders, and so on? We were all one nation for thousands of years and a border drawn very badly by Sir Cyril Radcliffe (who had never traveled East of the Suez, incidentally before he was given the assignment by the Foreign Office in 1947) cannot and should not be allowed to define us in every sense of the term.

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Shivan May 31, 2016 05:58pm

@Zak Congratulations!

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anon May 31, 2016 05:59pm

@Zak "Indians are so desperate to get Pakistani artists. Even giving life long visas without it being asked. We are undoubtedly the superior nation." I usually do not get personal in most cases, but I will make an exception in your case. India will continue to welcome sensible, smart people of any creed or nationality we hope, but we all know that we as a nation will want nothing to do with really toxic zeroes like you!

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someone May 31, 2016 06:18pm

@Zak Yeah man. You guys are superior nation. Even US keep sending its drones as salutations every now and then.

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Aurora May 31, 2016 06:21pm

@Zak : Very good joke.Every one is smiling

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Ibrahim May 31, 2016 06:50pm

@Dilip Thorat In 80's and 90's numbers of Indians came to Pakistan tear their passport and drained it in flush and started living in Karachi. later on they got Pakistani ID card. So do't be so over clever.

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Lakhkar Khan May 31, 2016 06:52pm

@Sachin You apparently did not read the article. It says this will exempt her from getting a visa and reporting to the police each time she visits India.

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Anil May 31, 2016 06:56pm

Welcome Home Salma

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SG May 31, 2016 06:57pm

@Zak you are funny man. "India issuing visa without the artist asking for it". Read this - "Agha, in her request, claimed that though she was born in Pakistan, she is a British citizen and hence, her request should be looked into. " Not only is she requesting it, she is actually ready to forgo her Pakistan link, in order to get Indian visa

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Lakhkar Khan May 31, 2016 07:01pm

@Dilip Thorat You wrote: "Wonder if any Indians (Muslims specially) interested to get Pakistan citizen." 1. Yes, half of Indian Muslims got Pakistani citizenship in 1947 and they are very happy till present. 2. Salma Agha's case is not any different than millions of you Indians going abroad (Middle East, Europe and Africa) to find work. Indians go abroad because they find work there and people like Adnan Sami and Salma Agha go to India because they find work in India (Bollywood).

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Deepu Sunny May 31, 2016 07:04pm

@Sunil its bec India doesnt have dual citizenship scheme..

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ihaq May 31, 2016 07:09pm

Hello Indian's, Does India lack talent? Why do they need foreigners to fill the gap.

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Rohit Singh May 31, 2016 07:16pm

@Zak "Indians are so desperate to get Pakistani artists. Even giving life long visas without it being asked. We are undoubtedly the superior nation." If thinking this way makes you happy then you're welcome but being in illusion will get you nowhere.

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Sr May 31, 2016 07:17pm

@Zak yes India is desperate to get talents. Also good talents are desperate to get into places where they are recognised. You can see results here

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Iamnotjoking May 31, 2016 07:18pm

This means she has renounce or surrender her Pakistani nationality.

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mohit May 31, 2016 07:19pm

@M. Saeed Awan, we are also capable of getting ur scientists, twist is they have to be good as your singers

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Np May 31, 2016 07:28pm

@Lakhkar Khan wrong.only 15% of Muslims in present day India moved to Pakistan.

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SKG May 31, 2016 07:29pm

@Zak Brother it is other way. Pakistani artist are desperate and want to join Indian film industry.

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Anuj May 31, 2016 07:46pm

@M. Saeed Awan I think nobody is interested in visiting Pakistan, the reason you pay ZIM to play at home.

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Anuj May 31, 2016 07:49pm

@Hasan sahab low paying like 5000 pounds per month? Or low paying like Pichai, Nadella?

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Begistan May 31, 2016 07:51pm

@ihaq When you need China to make you stand on your feet then the less said the better. Hello, anyone there?

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Begistan May 31, 2016 07:52pm

@Ibrahim prove it genius.

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Sr May 31, 2016 07:52pm

@ihaq does US lack talents? Why do they keep attracting talent. More talent is good always.think why good talents are leaving Pakistan

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Leo May 31, 2016 07:53pm

Welcome Salma..BTW she was already living in India for quite some time. We welcome friends of India. Many mindless people here are still convinced that Pakistan could offer them more..But nothing is better than the truth..Ask Fawad Khan who is having a magic run of his life her in India..

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Raj Patel May 31, 2016 08:00pm

@Hasan sahab What about Pakistanis ?? They run trough desert to get in to Europe,. Everyday Pakistanis are been deported in numbers. Ask your government how many ??

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ketan May 31, 2016 08:19pm

@Lakhkar Khan Going for work is ok but in the country which is considered as enemy? Also it is the same country which is partitioned by some fanatics. This is like total surrender. Pakistan cannot feed its artists also.

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Sahil May 31, 2016 08:20pm

@Dilip Thorat No way

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Rashid May 31, 2016 08:21pm

Salma Agha was never a Pakistani citizen, and always visited Pakistan on her British passport to work in the films. Her grand father Juggal Kishore Mehra was relative of indian artist Raj Kapoor. The only official connection she had with Pakistan was her first husband Javed Sheikh.

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sidney May 31, 2016 08:31pm

Salma Agha is a real star in India and genuinely loves the country. India should be proud that she has chosen to seek permanent residence like Adnan Sami

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Manoj Sharma May 31, 2016 08:55pm

@Feroz her great grand father was Hindu from Amritsar India

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Manoj Sharma May 31, 2016 08:56pm

@Rajesh here Indian Bihari goes overboard :)

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RFAK May 31, 2016 09:11pm

@lafanga Muhammad Ali Jinnah's grand son lives in Mumbai.

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Gaurav May 31, 2016 09:18pm

@M. Saeed Awan Really? Let's accept the fact dear. There is no comparison on ground. Of course, both side of common people are same.

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Aa2544 May 31, 2016 09:25pm

its the same perspective, whereby Indian artists look to Hollywood, and Pakistanis to Bollywood. It is just the bigger market and prospects, nothing else.

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RK Mohindra May 31, 2016 09:40pm

Madam Salma Agha, Welcome to India, Welcome home coming. We will love to hear you sing. You were(&still are) graceful and beautiful lady. You are invited to come to our home as guest, whenever you can and whenever your schedule permits. RK Mohindra, MD, FACP

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s khan May 31, 2016 09:40pm

That is the true spirit because many pakistanis do not confess this.

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Prateik May 31, 2016 09:55pm

Welcome to India ma'am.

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Mady May 31, 2016 10:04pm

Hopefully this melting pot of artists of the world, going to make Indian entertainment Industry more enriching. As the Indian entertainment industry expands, you see Korean stunt-choreographer, American technician, European, Iranian artists on long-term assignments.

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Mady May 31, 2016 10:07pm

@Zak I hope your superior nation learns from India entertainment industry and grow.

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a May 31, 2016 10:13pm

@ABC We are obsessed with Pakistan ?? Lol

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Mady May 31, 2016 10:16pm

@Np How many moved to Bangladesh?

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Amritsari May 31, 2016 10:39pm

Her features are of a Sikhni.

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Shaolin May 31, 2016 10:39pm

@Dilip Thorat Only nuclear scientists and jihadists move from India to Pakistan i.e. Those who want India destroyed. The peaceful ones are indifferent.

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Amritsari May 31, 2016 10:41pm

@Sunil , India does not grant dual citizenship. Either you are an Indian or a foreigner. OCI grants certain rights to enter, live and buy properties in India but does not allow to vote, aspire for a political position or buy agriculture land. She can have Pakistani and British passports but she would have surrendered Pakistani passport otherwise she wouldn't have been given an OCI. Pakistan allows dual citizenship.

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Abdulla Hussain May 31, 2016 10:54pm

Good for her to take citizenship in India. Is she doing anything, her name is hardly herd or seen in the media. At sixty she looks graceful may be she can befriend some producer in India and get some small role.

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Karma Dorji May 31, 2016 10:55pm

@lafanga haha, i have seen salma agha riding in a mercedes in mumbai where she used to live very close to where i did.

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Karma Dorji May 31, 2016 10:57pm

The article has deleted a very important thing mentioned in the original one. Salma Agha's grandfather was a hindu who was uncle of Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor and Salma's mother were cousins.

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Karma Dorji May 31, 2016 10:58pm

@M. Saeed Awan India offers lot of things, which is why even rich people want its citizenship.

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Mullah May 31, 2016 11:03pm

@M. Saeed Awan hahaha. U r living in fools paradise. Look around what world is saying about india and about pakistan.comoare stats. There is no point comparing two. If u visit india with open heart, u will find pakistan black and white compared to colorful, vibrant india.

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Brijesh May 31, 2016 11:30pm

@Lakhkar Khan So you except you are a Pakistani but basically an Indian Muslim

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Khilari May 31, 2016 11:31pm

@imdadali great? She's an over rated artist. She looks more fake and made up.

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kumar May 31, 2016 11:35pm

@M. Saeed Awan really Mr. Awan. Schools, colleges, public institutions, economy that's growing at almost 8%, Creativity and the list is endless

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kumar May 31, 2016 11:39pm

@ihaq its like saying- does every western country lack talent? why do so many Pakistanis put their life in danger to go there? I am sure u r intelligent enough to get a drag of where I am coming from.

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Jay May 31, 2016 11:44pm

@Dilip Thorat : I wonder why so many Indians are running out of India and living in other countries?

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Lakhkar Khan May 31, 2016 11:52pm

@kumar Kumar, on the same note, how many you Indians fleeing India to get to Europe, the Middle East and the US? If India is so great, why you losers are running away for a better future then?

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Lakhkar Khan May 31, 2016 11:53pm

@Brijesh Pay attention to what I wrote.

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Lakhkar Khan May 31, 2016 11:56pm

@a Not sure if you Indians are obsessed with Pakistan or not but you certainly are obsessed with Pakistani publications for sure. Indian publications must suck out loud for so many Indians to be around here.

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Lakhkar Khan Jun 01, 2016 12:25am

@ketan You wrote: “Also it is the same country which is partitioned by some fanatics. This is like total surrender. Pakistan cannot feed its artists also.” India was not partitioned for an independent by fanatics. Independence seekers were from all wake of life, from well educated to laborers who valued their freedom. Those who you call fanatics were freedom loving Muslims. They took their rights and created a new country called Pakistan. Pakistan’s living standard is higher than India’s. Read the report by BBC, unless you believe they are lying. “Eight Indian states account for more poor people than in the 26 poorest African countries combined, a new measure of global poverty has found.”

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Zak Jun 01, 2016 01:07am

@Dilip Thorat there have been cases of indian muslims wanting pakistani citizenship but they are less than Hindus who left pakistan for india and now want to return.

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Zak Jun 01, 2016 01:08am

@Madhusudan no, he is too patriotic like Ali Zafar etc.

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Zak Jun 01, 2016 01:09am

@Rohit Singh look in the mirror and accept reality. Read article again. Who is giving visa to whom.

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XoF Jun 01, 2016 01:43am

So many insecure indians reading pakistani updates as soon as they wake up.

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Rahmat Jun 01, 2016 02:17am

@Zak You desperately need a brain transplant.

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JODH Jun 01, 2016 02:26am

Where is her family? where is her husband? can any one tell it.

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S. A. M. Jun 01, 2016 02:41am

reading the reader's comments looks like salma Agha will be the cause of Pakistan India war. hey guys take it easy. it's her life. let her chose where she likes to stay. question is why people from India and Pakistan chose to go to the west when their own countries according to them is such splendidly wonderful.

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Naeem Rizvi Jun 01, 2016 03:00am

India should offer citizenship to all prominent Pakistanis in the field of arts, literature, soc sports, social service, research and development and academicians. Wish Noor Jahan, Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Nazia Hassan, Saadat Hasan Manto were given Indian citizenships before they passed away.

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Ahsan Gul Jun 01, 2016 03:04am

If she is born in Great Britain then she is not a Pakistanie citizen, am I right? So why bother with this lengthy article.

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Dervaish Khan Jun 01, 2016 03:34am

The thing that I love the most about Pakistan is its national anthem, Pak sar zameen shad baad. If I have a pressure to give up every thing, I would agree to even give away my life but not our sweet, melodious Qoumi Tarana

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Shaan Jun 01, 2016 05:38am

So what next? ISI will use her as a spy? how can Indians be so foolish?

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Jay Jun 01, 2016 05:42am

Dil ke armaan khushi se bhar aaye... Thanks Salma ji !! You look gorgeous !!!

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jaswinder singh Jun 01, 2016 08:32am

@Sunil For your kind information, Indian laws does not permit dual citizenship. What she is getting, an oci card, is merely a life long visa - nothing more. As per rules it seems she is entitled to it.

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PJ Jun 01, 2016 08:46am

@Zak Very funny!!

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Asha Jun 01, 2016 08:56am

@M. Saeed Awan yes grapes are sour

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joe Jun 01, 2016 09:03am

@ihaq Indians particularly the movie industry are obsessed with fair skin entrants. Racism based on skin color is a common handicap in India. Bollywood has pushed this to limit

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Asha Jun 01, 2016 09:34am

@Zak read the article fully, she applied for visa and denied her Pakistani identity (she identified herself as British)

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KD Jun 01, 2016 10:49am

@lafanga she has a house in Mumbai

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ron Jun 01, 2016 12:21pm

@Zak you must be a child. Let me guess you are below 18

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Ibrahim Jun 01, 2016 02:13pm

@Begistan It had been reported many times in news papers of that time, but do't go too far, just recently when Mullah Mansoor got killed in drone attack, carrying Pakistani passport. Interior minister ordered to check ID cards to find out how many foreigners are carrying Pakistani ID cards. In that search Afghanis, Burmese, Bangladeshis and Indians have been found living in Pakistan with Pakistani ID cards.

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Robby Jun 01, 2016 02:34pm

@Zak You just need attention from all others commenting on any news. That's what you have doing all the time. Period.

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sri1 Jun 01, 2016 04:24pm

@M. Saeed Awan "Otherwise I don't think India offers anything better than Pakistan." There is a search engine called Google. Please check news on entertainment industry and USD figures from our nations. Also check about artistic and freedoms, pluralism etc,

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Ahsan Gul Jun 01, 2016 05:39pm

@Naeem Rizvi - was that a joke. If you were serious it was not entertaining. Sorry.

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My Name Jun 02, 2016 10:06am

@Rashid Sultan ; But didn't former Indians vote with their feet to create Pakistan? Could India absorb another 100 million + and survive? My grandparents were Indians, I was born in a different nation and now live in North America. By some rules, I am an NRI. I'll start with OCI, I think!

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Pawan Jun 03, 2016 12:19pm

@M. Saeed Awan tons of students from Pakistan are studying in India due to lack of quality education in Pak, Also all major hospitals in India are full of Pak patients.

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lafanga Jun 03, 2016 08:12pm

The only attraction for the celebrities in India is Bollywood and the money in Bollywood. Other than that there is nothing. Pakistan has happier and friendlier people, much better food, much better music, much better poetic language and last but not least Pakistan has Lahore :)

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Sheesha Jun 03, 2016 09:31pm

@lafanga hahahahahahahahahahahah wait a min hahahahahahahah

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someone Jun 04, 2016 01:42am

@Zak Why are you a world class buffoon? the VISA has to be requested before is it granted. Do you get it??? Or may be not ( inbreeding much?)

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DM Jun 04, 2016 04:32am

@Lakhkar Khan Really!!!

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Dude1 Jun 04, 2016 08:49am

Welcome home, Salma Agha.