The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad was granted a visa to visit India as he does not figure on the “negative list”.
A senior MHA official said that Miandad was part of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and was not on the negative list: “When the request came from the Ministry of External Affairs, we cleared it. His visa papers were in order and valid.”
There was a huge hue and cry over the government’s decision to grant visa to the former Pakistan cricket team captain, who also happens to be the relative of Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted terrorist. Miandad’s son is married to Dawood’s daughter. Following the controversy, Miandad cancelled his visit to India.
Interestingly, the former cricketer was given visa in April 2011 to witness the World Cup semi final at Mohali but he did not come at the time. Miandad has not visited the country since his son’s wedding with Dawood’s daughter in July 2005. His request for visa the same year was turned down by the government.
The BJP and the Shiv Sena criticised the government for the decision, asking how allowing a person related to Ibrahim would help improve bilateral ties.