Islamabad: After Pakistani origin singer Adnan Sami was granted Indian citizenship, another Pakistan-born singer Salma Agha has applied for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Card.
The Pakistan born artist is UK citizen. She had given her voice to few
Bollywood films and acted in some of them. Agha had won Filmfare best female playback award in 1982 for her rendition "Dil Ke armaan aansuon me beh gaye" in movie 'Nikaah'.
Pakistani singer Adnan Sami was in January this year given Indian
Citizenship. Among others who have been staying in India and working on employment visa are Katrina Kaif (UK citizen), Deepti Naval (US citizen) and Yana Gupta (Czech citizen).
Salma Agha born to a wealthy father and in Karachi, moved to London at age 9. She was married to a prominent Pakistani settled in London at age 16. A divorce soon followed.
Salma was soon hired. When the music directors heard Salma's ABBA hits they signed her on to sing her own playback songs.
The movie "Nikah" went on to be a huge success and is considered a classic.
The Indian Home Ministry is considering her application and a decision for granting her citizenship will soon be made, sources in Home ministry said.
An OCI card allows its holder multiple entries, multipurpose lifelong visa to visit India and exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in the country.
The OCI card gives parity to an individual with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
As per rules, a foreign national who is a child, grandchild or a great grandchild of Indian citizen is eligible for registration as OCI card-holder. There are few other conditions to get OCI card.
However, no person, who or either of whose parents, grandparents or great grandparents is or had been a citizen of Pakistan and Bangladesh shall be eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India card holder.