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Wagah (Amritsar), Oct 24: Javed Elahi, brother of Pakistan's Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Elahi, was among the cricket fans who crossed the Wagah Border today to watch their heroes in action in the Champions Trophy matches at
Mohali.
Elahi and his family members arrived amidst heavy security arrangements that has been put in place to receive the Pakistani cricket lovers.
The response from the Pakistan fans to the two Champions Trophy matches featuring their heroes, to be held at Mohali against New Zeeland (Oct 25) and South Africa (Oct 27) have been muted so far, though.
Till evening, merely 27 Pakistanis had crossed over to Indian Territory whereas according to the Immigration officials at Wagah border, about 1,000 of them were expected to come to watch the matches.
Immigration officials said the tight security arrangements, highlighted in the media, had probably discouraged the Pakistanis to come and watch the matches.
Talking to mediapersons, Elahi said the match dates clashing with the Eid festival was another reason that had kept the fans away.
"It would be wrong to say that there were some visa restrictions or any kind of visa hassle that caused less number of Pakistani visitors coming to Indian soil. The basic reasons was that in Pakistan, Muslim families prefer to observe Eid festival in a family atmosphere, with their near and dear ones," he said. (Agencies)
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