Ajay Bisaria Apologises To Harassed Guests

Ajay Bisaria, India's High Commissioner to Pakistan offered a public apology after numerous Pakistanis trying to attend an iftar party hosted by him were harassed and forced to leave the venue.

"I want to apologize to all the friends who were subject to some extra scrutiny outside," Ajay Bisaria said on Saturday, using diplomatic language.

"Thank you so much. Many friends have been stopped outside," he added
Interacting with the media later Bisaria told that the incident was counter to better relations between India and Pakistan.

It may be mentioned here that it was Pakistani security agencies including intelligence personnel not in uniform who carried out this virtual sabotage of the Indian iftar party at Hotel Serena in Islamabad.

The list of elite Pakistani guests who skipped the event even after being invited includes Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi.

Some of the other invitees included politicians, community leaders, and heads of Sufi shrines, academics, writers and civil society activists.
Sources informed that as soon as the guests began to arrive in the venue, the Pakistani security agencies stopped them and prevented them from entering the venue.

Reportedly, the Pakistani security officials also telephoned members of the Karachi Federation of Chambers of Commerce, the Faisalabad Chambers of Commerce and the Lahore Chambers of Commerce not to attend the iftar party.

The Pakistani media did not report Saturday's incident.

This incident comes days after Islamabad accused Indian security personnel of obstructing Indians from attending an iftar party thrown by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

It may be mentioned here that the relations between Indian and Pakistan soured after a terror outfit based in Pakistan attacked a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, on February earlier this year which killed 40 soldiers.