Pak PM bars sports minister from visiting India for hockey World Cup

Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani stopped Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani from travelling to India to participate in the opening ceremony of the hockey World Cup in New Delhi due to the “prevailing tension” between the two countries.

Jakhrani was scheduled to visit New Delhi to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup and also watch the match between India and Pakistan at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

“Gilani, however, stopped the minister from travelling to India due to ‘prevailing tension’ between the two countries and lack of substantive outcome in the foreign secretary-level talks on February 25,” the Daily Times quoted official sources, as saying.

“The Prime Minister had also returned a proposal from the sports ministry seeking clearance for Jakhrani to travel to India,” sources added.

There was, however, no official word available on this development.