Adnan Sami says, he is awaiting MHA decision on visa extension

Mumbai: Pakistani singer Adnan Sami today said he has already applied for visa extension by sending his application to the department under Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi and was awaiting approval. In a statement, Adnan Sami said, "This is to inform that my visa expired on 6th October, 2013, and as per standard rules, I had made an application for extension of my visa to the concerned department of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi on 14th September 2013.""This is a standard procedure that is followed by all foreigners and I have been following it for the past 14 years. Hence this year is no different. "Until the visa extension is granted by the MHA in New Delhi, I have to be in India as I cannot leave."The Mumbai Police is very much aware of my situation and are fully informed of this. The important part is that I have followed procedure as per routine since I respect all procedures and have followed them throughout my 14 years of residence in India and will always continue to do so as a law-abiding citizen."The Mumbai Police today issued a notice to Adnan Sami, after it was found that he was overstaying his visa period in India. Police authorities have asked Adnan Sami to leave within seven days. The notice said Adnan Sami should either leave India within 7 days or get his work visa extended. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had recently demanded that Adnan Sami be deported forthwith and his visa should not be extended. The Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (MNCKS), a group affiliated with the MNS, had requested the authorities to not grant him an extension on the visa.Adnan Sami had met MNCKS president Ameya Khopkar and requested him to cooperate with him after allegations of him staying without a visa in India cropped up.“We have asked the authorities to not allow the extension. We hope they pay heed to what we have said. "We have a lot of talented artists of our own; we do not need a Pakistani to come and sing here. Besides, whatever money he earns here, he probably sends to Pakistan, and that country will be using the same money against us. So he has to leave the country,” said Ameya Khopkar.The discussion on Sami's visa was raised during an ongoing court case between Adnan Sami and his ex-wife Sabah Galadari.Galadari's lawyer raised the issue of the Pakistani singer's illegal stay in India. Sami and Galadhari are in court over the possession of a duplex flat in Lokhandwala Complex, where the singer currently stays with his third wife.According to media reports, Sami had claimed that he had a Pakistani passport and was residing in India on the basis of a visa granted to him from time to time.He also said his visa was valid from September 26, 2012, till October 6, 2013.Usha Tanna, Sami's lawyer, said, “The application for extension of visa is a normal process and he has been doing it for the last 20 years. These issues are being raised for the sake of publicity.The case in the family court is limited to a few issues and the visa issue is outside the ambit of the family cour