Unfortunate that Syed Ali Shah Geelani unable to see ailing daughter: Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday termed as "unfortunate" that travel restrictions were being imposed on hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani by India, preventing him from seeing his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia.

Expressing solidarity with Geelani, the Foreign Office (FO) said it was "unfortunate that a humanitarian issue is being played up in the Indian media."

"The Government and the people of Pakistan sympathise with Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is unable to travel to Saudi Arabia to see his daughter in Jeddah due to travel restrictions imposed on him," it said.

The FO said Pakistan was "concerned" over her critical illness and hopes for her speedy recovery as it offered to extend "every possible assistance to Geelani and his family".

It also criticised India for denying travel permission to Geelani, who has been asked by the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP to acknowledge he is Indian and "apologise" for his anti-national activities if he wants to get passport to Saudi Arabia.

Ministry of External Affairs has said it will take a call on Geelani's plea for undertaking the travel on the basis of facts.