ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Monday called the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabarwal, seeking the immediate release of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and said that it was not right for Khan to be kept in custody for investigations for such a prolonged time.
"He should be allowed to go to his hotel and whatever investigation should go on. The Pakistani foreign secretary and the high commissioner in New Delhi have both made formal appeals for Khan's release," Abdul Basit, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman, said in Islamabad.
The Foreign Office spokesman told DawnNews that a two-member task force from the Pakistan High Commision in Delhi would be reviewing the cases. The spokesman also said that the Indian Revenue Intelligence Agency was investigating Khan.
Basit said Pakistani officials had not yet been allowed to visit Khan. He said 12 people traveling with Khan had been released, but two other members of Khan's entourage remained in custody.
Khan was detained at an Indian airport carrying more than $100,000, a much larger amount than is permissible under local law.
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