Pak defence min warns India against asylum to Bugti

BUGTI, WHO HAS BEEN LIVING IN SWITZERLAND, APPROACHED THE INDIAN EMBASSY ON TUESDAY IN GENEVA SEEKING ASYLUM IN INDIA

ISLAMABAD/MUMBAI: Pakistan on Friday warned India that by granting asylum to Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, it will become an “official sponsor of terrorism”.

“India granting asylum to Bugti will amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state...thus (India) becoming official sponsor of terrorism,” Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tweeted.

Asif ’s remarks came after it emerged that Bugti’s application seeking political asylum in India was yesterday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it.

Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi.

Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.

He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006. Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. MNS ISSUES WARNING Amid tension in the wake of Uri terror attack, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS on Friday asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled.

The party wrote an open letter to Bollywood producers and production houses, asking them why they need to rope in actors from the neighbouring country when enough talent is available in India.

Actors like Mahira Khan (featuring in Shah Rukh Khanstarrer Raees) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil star Fawad are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, MNS General Secretary Shalini Thackeray told a press conference here.

“They (Pakistanis) don’t give our people any respect in their country. Pakistani artists don’t earn anything in their country but in India they get name, fame and money. After all this, their government funds terror activities in India, this is completely unacceptable,” Thackeray said.

Mumbai Police, however, assured the actors they need not worry as they will be given protection.

Thackeray lambasted the government for not dealing with Pakistan in a “stern” manner.