The Hindu : Front Page : Burney episode regrettable, he is always welcome: New Delhi

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Burney episode regrettable, he is always welcome: New Delhi

Special Correspondent

Home Ministry orders enquiry
External Affairs Ministry seeks details

NEW DELHI: New Delhi on Saturday said the denial of entry to Pakistani Minister Ansar Burney to India was regrettable and he was always welcome to visit the country.

Mr. Burney, a prominent human rights figure, who arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here from Dubai on Friday night, was denied entry by an immigration official “on account of inadequate documentation.” He was sent back on the same flight he had flown in.

He had come to attend a conference on terrorism.

An embarrassed Union Home Ministry quickly ordered an inquiry into the affair. It clarified that Mr. Burney was “not deported,” but denied entry.

“The inconvenience to Mr. Burney is unfortunate and regrettable and he is always welcome to visit India. This has also been conveyed to him by a senior officer who spoke to Mr. Burney on Saturday,” the Home Ministry said in a clarification.

It recalled that “no such difficulty had arisen when Mr. Burney visited India in April when requisite information about his visit was available in advance.”

On its part, the Ministry of External Affairs also sought details of the episode from the Home Ministry, asking why Mr. Burney, who has been fighting for the cause of Indian prisoners in Pakistan, was sent back, sources said.

In April, Mr. Burney met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

Mr. Burney had worked relentlessly to secure the release of Indian death row prisoner Kashmir Singh, who had been lodged in Pakistan jails for many years.

He is now pleading for clemency to Sarabjit Singh, who is facing death sentence in connection with a serial bomb blast case in Pakistan.

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