Bombay HC rejects plea to ban Pakistani artists; says patriotism should not breed hostility: Report – Times of India

After the Indian Government allowed the Pakistani cricket team to participate in the World Cup held in India, Bombay High Court dismissed the plea to ban Pakistani artists in the country.
On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court rejected a petition that had called for a total prohibition on Indian citizens, companies, and organizations from involving Pakistani artists, encompassing actors, singers, musicians, lyricists, and technicians in their projects.

A division bench of Justice Sunil B Shukre and Justice Firdosh P Pooniwalla observed that the petition is a “retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace, and has no merit in it.”

“A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony, and tranquility within the country and across the border, Arts, music, sports, culture, dance and so on are the activities which rise above nationalities, cultures and nations and truly bring about peace, tranquility, unity and harmony in nation and between nations”, the court observed.
The petition, filed by a cinema industry worker, requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue suitable notifications that would enforce a ban on Pakistani artists and prevent the issuance of visas to them.
Nonetheless, the court made an observation that entertaining such petitions would undermine the “positive steps” taken by the Indian government to promote international peace and security. One of these steps cited was allowing the Pakistani cricket team to participate in the World Cricket Cup held in India, as reported by Live Law.

The court also said that activities promoting peace, harmony, and tranquility, including arts, music, sports, culture, and dance, transcend national boundaries and contribute to unity and harmony within and between nations.
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has starred in Indian films like, ‘Kapoor & Sons’ and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’. While Mahira Khan has starred in Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Raees’, Saba Qamar starred in Irrfan Khan starrer ‘Hindi Medium’. Singers like Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan have previously sung for Indian films.