Former Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit says majority of Indian Muslims live like second class citizens

Abdul Basit was Pakistan’s former high commission to India. He was appointed to India in the year 2014 and was based at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Former Pakistani envoy to India Abdul Basit has alleged that the Muslims of the country,spend their lives living like a second class citizens. In a conference in Pakistan, Basit said: “Go and see the conditions of Muslims in India Majority of them are living like second class citizens." He also mentioned veteran Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi in his controversial statement. Basit claimed that Shabana Azmi, the prominent Indian actress had once told him privately that she was not allowed to rent a house in a Mumbai locality because of her religion. Abdul Basit was Pakistan’s former high commission to India. He was appointed to India in the year 2014 and was based at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. He retired early from his post in the year 2017. His three year tenure was marred by many controversies. In the year of 2014, India called off talks between the foreign secretaries, after Basit met Kashmiri separatist leaders. On several occasions Basit had given remarks that angered the external affairs ministry. Sohail Mahmood is the current Pakistani high commissioner to India. Basit’s remarks comes at a time when the ties between the two countries have soured to extreme levels following the worst terror attack in recent years in Kashmir’s Pulwama, which killed 40 CRPF personnel. The attack was carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed. Also do not miss: Pulwama attack: Imran Khan waited for Pak army’s instructions before speech, says ex-wife Reham Khan