Pakistani visitors in India wish to stay back till situation turns normal

Visitors from Pakistan in Godhra want their visas be extended till situation returns to normal in their strife-torn nation following the assassination of former Pakistans premier Benazir Bhutto.

Godhra (Gujarat), Jan 1 : Visitors from Pakistan in Godhra want their visas be extended till situation returns to normal in their strife-torn nation following the assassination of former Pakistan's premier Benazir Bhutto.

The Pakistani nationals have urged the Gujarat Government to extend their visas, as they feel it may not be safe for them to undertake the journey across the border at this juncture.

"When we left for Pakistan on December 27 and reached Baroda, we realised that the assassination of Bhutto had already taken place and things are bad back home. It was then that we requested the officials in Godhra and Vadodhra to look into the matter. We have requested them to extend our visas as we cannot go back to Pakistan in these circumstances," said Mohammad Imran, a visitor from Karachi.

The visitors were pleased to know that reportedly the Indian Government is favourably considering the request to extend their visas.

"The visas of these eleven visitors from Pakistan were expiring on December 27 and they were supposed to reach the border by December 29. But in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, we have been requested by them to extend their visas by at least 15-30 days. We have contacted the Central Government for the same," said P.R. Shah, Police Inspector, Panchmahal.

Bhutto was assassinated on December 27 in Rawalpindi while campaigning for January 8 parliamentary poll which she had hoped to win.

Her assassination rocked Pakistan and violence broke out at several places across the country. Her home province of Sindh was worst affected by the violence.

ANI