Complete Ban On Pakistan Artists In India? High Court Rejects Petition

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition seeking complete ban on Pakistani artists from performing or working in India.

A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and Firdosh Pooniwalla observed that in order to be a patriot, one doesn’t need to be inimical to those from abroad, especially from the neighbouring country.

A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony and tranquillity within the country and across the border, the judges said while hearing the petition filed by cine worker and artist Faaiz Anwar Qureshi.

Qureshi’s plea sought the court’s direction to the Union government to impose a complete ban on Indian citizens, companies, firms and associations from employing or soliciting any work or performance, taking of any services, or entering into any association and so on with Pakistani artists, including its cine workers, singers, musicians, lyricists and technicians.

The court dismissed the petition on October 17, saying that the reliefs being sought is a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace, and has no merit.

The judges said that arts, music, sports, culture, dance and so on are activities which rise above nationalities, cultures and nations and truly bring about peace, tranquillity, unity and harmony in nation and between nations.

The order noted that the Pakistan cricket team is taking part in the ongoing ODI World Cup in India, and this has been possible only because of appreciable positive steps taken by Indian government in the interest of overall peace and harmony in consonance with Article 51 of the Constitution of India which is about promotion of international peace and security.