ISLAMABAD, June 23: The government on Friday claimed that it had issued visas to 50 Indian artistes, including a prominent writer and poet Javed Akhtar, for attending a function to be held in Karachi on Saturday in connection with the screening of the first Indian film Mughal-i-Azam in Pakistan in 40 years.

“We have issued visa to all 50 members of Indian delegation and an NOC has been sent to the Indian High Commission,” Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah told Dawn.

Meanwhile, head of the Indian delegation Javed Akthar told a local TV channel that Pakistani authorities had not yet issued him a visa and subsequently other members of the delegation had decided not to travel to Pakistan in protest.

He said the Indian delegation was very disappointed because of what he termed ‘unexpected’ attitude of Pakistani authorities.

However, the secretary interior rejected Mr Akhtar’s claim, saying he (Javed Akhtar) was the first man in the delegation to whom the visa had been issued.

The official said the 50 visas had been issued in two phases and Mr Akhtar had been facilitated in the first.

The secretary interior said there was no government instruction to deprive Mr Akhtar of visa facility.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Television said the plan to air Mughal-i-Azam telethon had been shelved after cancellation of visit by Indian artists. The event was being organised by Nadeem Mandiwala Entertainment.