Veena Malik doesn't have work permit to work in India'

Pakistani actress Veena Malik may be on the lookout for Mr Right but has attracted attention for all the wrong reasons. 

Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA)'s chairperson of the joint dispute settlement's committee and the vigilance committee, Raza Murad has criticized Imagine TV for roping in Malik for their show Swayamvar's fourth season.

"Couldn't they find an Indian girl for the show that they had to seek a non-Indian? And my second question to the channel is: would Pakistan permit a show on national television where a girl from India goes seeking a bridegroom in their country? The answer is no. No aspiring bride from India would be allowed to participate in Pakistan."

Raza also alleges that Malik doesn't have the required work permit to work in India.

He adds, "She is here on a business visa. That means she cannot earn a living in India. A business visa is valid for 45 days and with a triple-entry permission.

"To my knowledge, she isn't supposed to go outside the city limits where her visa is applicable. The High Commission gives permission for a person with a business visa to travel to different cities. We don't know how she's been shooting in Agra. We at CINTAA have not given her a work permit. The eligibility for a membership card for CINTAA is that you should have at least one role to your credit in a Hindi  film. If she had submitted a letter to us from the government of India granting her permission to work as an actor in India, then we could've given her a work permit. As things stand, any non-member of CINTAA is not liable to shoot in India."

When contacted for her reaction, Malik said, "I have the highest regard for them. But the CINTAA people are only creating problems for no reason.

"I was informed that everyone from Pakistan who comes to India to work -- whether it's Veena Malik or Ali Zafar -- is given a business visa. I do have a business visa but my passport clearly says that I'm an actress by profession. I've been coming repeatedly to India."

The actress also clarifies that she has all the required documents in place. She says, "Besides my business visa, I've been given two documents stating all the places I can visit and work in India. I've requested CINTAA members to contact the High Commission if they have any doubts about my visa. Why should I give them additional papers when I've been told my documents are in order?"

Asked about her Agra trip for a shoot, the actress replies, "Am I so stupid that I'd flaunt travel rules when people are monitoring every move I make? Yes, I have a visa for Mumbai. I applied for a separate visa to visit Agra. When I enter and exit a new city or state in India I have to report to the police."

She adds, "The CINTAA members are sitting in a room thinking I don't have the permission to go to Agra. How do they know? If I am an illegal immigrant, let the government of India handle it. Yeh log kyon pareshaan ho rahe hain (Why are these people getting worried)? Is it possible for any Pakistani national to roam freely in India without proper papers? I want to sit down with the CINTAA leaders and talk our differences out."