KARACHI: Famous television artist Atiqa Odho has called upon authorities to formulate a policy through which both Indian and Pakistani artists could perform and earn in each other’s country without getting into conflict with law.

Referring to the issue of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who was caught at an Indian airport with over $124,000 cash recently, she said that had there been any laid down procedure the Pakistani artist would not have been caught and humiliated like that. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Sunday, she said that Pakistani artists had been visiting India for years to perform there and in order to transfer their earnings to their accounts they had to make monetary transactions through ‘hawala’ in the absence of a legal procedure. Similarly, she added, Indian films were doing a good business in Pakistan and transferring the huge profits to India though without making the means public.

She demanded that a transparent policy should be formulated for Pakistani and Indian showbiz companies and individuals so that they could do their business or perform without indulging in any illegal act.

She also urged the Pakistani authorities not to harass Rahat Fateh Ali upon his return.

TV artist Misbah Khan and producer Sohail Hashmi were also present at the press conference.
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Source: Dawn
Date:2/21/2011