A group of young Pakistanis reportedly told Indian singer Adnan Sami at Baku in Azerbaijan that they hated the Pakistani army for destroying their country. File photo
Other Pakistanis too want to quit their country: Adnan Sami
Sami became an Indian citizen in 2016 after his Pakistani passport expired in May 2015 and the Pakistan govt did not renew it
Well-known singer Adnan Sami, who gave up his Pakistani citizenship to become an Indian, says he recently met some Pakistanis who praised him for leaving their country “in good time” and said they too want to quit.
A group of young Pakistanis reportedly told Adnan Sami in Azerbaijan that they hated the Pakistani army for destroying their country.
What Pakistanis said
"Met some very sweet Pakistani boys while walking on the beautiful streets of Baku, Azerbaijan…They said, 'Sir, you are very lucky. You left Pakistan in good time. We also want to change our citizenship… WE HATE OUR ARMY…They have destroyed our country!!'” he posted on X.
The singer said he told them: “I knew this long ago!”
Also Read: If CAA is against Muslims, how did Adnan Sami get citizenship: FM
Adnan made the revelation amid a major setback in India-Pakistan relations after New Delhi accused Islamabad and Pakistani terrorists of massacring over two dozen civilians at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
From Pakistani to Indian
Adnan, known for such memorable songs as Lift Kara De, first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a one-year visitor's visa issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. It was extended from time to time.
His Pakistani passport, issued in May 2010, expired in May 2015. The Pakistan government did not renew it. He became an Indian citizen in 2016.
Also Read: Row after Adnan Sami gets Padma Shri, Congress slams govt
The Indian government awarded him a Padma Shri in 2010 for his contribution to music.
Row with Pak minister
Adnan got into a spat with a former Pakistani minister, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, after the Indian government ordered all Pakistanis to leave India in the wake of the Pahalgam massacre.
Hussain then raised questions about the singer's citizenship, prompting Adnan to retort: "Who's going to tell this illiterate idiot!!"
Also Read: ‘Illiterate idiot’: Adnan Sami hits back at Pak ex-minister’s ‘deflated balloon’ jab
Who is Adnan?
Adnan, whose full name is Adnan Sami Khan, was born in London in 1971.
Besides being a singer, he is also a musician, music composer, actor, and pianist. He performs Indian and Western music in many languages like Hindi, Urdu, English, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.