Adnan Sami becomes Indian from today

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami will become an Indian from Friday with the government saying that it has decided to give him a citizenship on humanitarian grounds.

For Sami (46), who has been in India since March 2001 and had memorable numbers like “Kabhi To Nazar Milao” and “Lift Karaa De”, the order comes as a new year gift. Sami had on May 26 this year requested the Centre to legalise his status in the country on humanitarian grounds.

Sami had earned the wrath of the BJP, while in Opposition, with its Maharashtra leaders earlier objecting to extension of visa for the singer and that he be deported.

Home Ministry officials said Sami at present is on a three-month visa extension which was given to him on October 6. Sami, who had first arrived in India on March 13, 2001, on a visitor’s visa with the validity of one year that was issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. His visa was extended from time to time.

The singer's Pakistani passport issued on May 27, 2010, had expired on May 26 this year. The Pakistani  government refused to renew his passport, which prompted him to approach the Indian government with the request to legalise his stay in India.

In May, following his request, the Home Ministry had come with an order, “now, therefore, in pursuance of the powers conferred under section 3A of Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946), the central government being of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to do so, hereby declared that provisions of clauses (c) and (e) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Foreigners Act 1946 and paragraph 11 of the Foreigners Order, 1948 shall not apply to the said Mr Adnan Sami Khan, son of late Arshad Sami Khan and he is exempted from deportation proceedings.” “The passport no.

VG4104472 issued on May 27, 2010 by the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the said Adnan Sami Khan, Pakistani national, had expired on May 26, 2015,” the order said. It had also noted that Pakistan “will not” renew the current Pakistani passport of Sami.