Acclaimed Pakistani Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was deported from India’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad, the Times of India (TOI) reported.

According to reports, on Thursday morning the singer had arrived in Hyderabad to perform at a New Year’s Eve event at Taj Falaknuma Palace, when he was barred entry by immigration officials.

‘Further, immigration authorities termed Rahat’s deportation as ‘technical flaws’. According to Indian immigration rules, Pakistani nationals can’t enter India through Hyderabad; the legal ports of entry by air are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.’

‘That’s why the singer was asked to return to Abu Dhabi and travel to the city through the valid entry points,’ the official said quoted TOI.

He added, ‘If a Pakistani national enters through any other airport, except the four metros, his/her travel to India cannot be recorded. Hence it is mandatory that they stick to the four ports. This system has been put in place to monitor the movement of Pakistani nationals in and out of the country.’

‘However, immigration officials, while refraining from confirming the statement, stated that a violation of rules in travel documents led to the singer’s deportation.’

‘There was a technical issue with his documentation and he was deported to Abu Dhabi on the same flight,’ said an immigration official quoted TOI.