A fresh social media spat erupted between singer Adnan Sami, who famously gave up Pakistani citizenship to become an Indian national, and former Pakistani federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, amid escalating tensions following India’s directive for Pakistani nationals to leave the country.
The controversy began when Fawad reacted to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s order, which mandates all Pakistani citizens in India to depart by April 27, with an extended deadline until April 29 for medical visa holders. Taking a dig, Fawad posted on X, “What about Adnan Sami?” — questioning if the singer would also be asked to leave.
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Sami, who has been a naturalized Indian citizen since 2016, fired back, calling Fawad an “illiterate idiot” and reminding him that his citizenship status was legally secured years ago.
The exchange escalated when Fawad responded by asserting, “Adnan Sami is from Lahore.” In a mocking tone, he added, “Our very own Lahori Adnan Sami looks like all the air has been let out of a balloon… get well soon @AdnanSamiLive.”
Sami corrected him sharply, stating, “My roots are from Peshawar, not Lahore! To think that you were Minister of (Mis)Information and have no knowledge about any information!” He further taunted, “Meri tho hawa nikal gaee — tu abhi bhi balloon hai [The air has been let out of me, but you are still a balloon]! And you were Minister of Science?”
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This heated exchange unfolds against the backdrop of worsening India-Pakistan relations following the April 22 terror attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 Indian tourists dead.
In response to the attack, India suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals, ordered all Pakistanis to leave, and warned that overstayers would be violating immigration laws.
Adnan Sami, once a celebrated figure in Pakistan’s music scene, moved to India in the early 2000s and obtained Indian citizenship in 2016. Over the years, he has consistently expressed gratitude toward India, describing the move as his “destiny.”
The recent online confrontation reflects how the diplomatic fallout between India and Pakistan is now spilling over into cultural and personal realms as well.