Adnan Sami first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a one-year visitor’s visa issued by the Indian high commission in Islamabad.Pakistani singer Adnan Sami born in Lahore, has been staying in the country since 2001, is likely to be granted Indian citizenship under Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
The Bollywood singer’s request for Indian citizenship on the grounds that he has renounced his Pakistani citizenship and made India his home, has been endorsed by the Attorney General of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also mulling granting him citizenship by naturalization in view of his distinguished service to the cause of art.
Adnan had approached Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking relief from deportation after Pakistani authorities refused to renew his passport in May over marital dispute with his second wife, Sabah Galadari, a UAE citizen. The couple divorced in 2012, and Adnan is now married to Roya Faryabi, his third wife.
“In pursuance of the powers conferred under Section 3A of Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946), the central government…declares…that he (Adnan Sami Khan, son of late Arshad Sami Khan) is exempted from deportation proceedings. This order shall remain valid until further orders,” said a home ministry order tabled in the Lok Sabha in August.
The citizenship for the Lahore-born singer, if approved, will come in the in eye of Shiv Sena’s strong opposition to performances by Pakistani artists.
