Pakistan's Sachal Jazz Ensemble denied permission to play in Mumbai

The Sachal Jazz Ensemble, a collaborative group featuring musicians from Pakistan, the UK and India, were prevented from performing in India by police in Mumbai. Despite British musicians being given the appropriate permission paperwork to play, the same was not afforded to the musicians from Pakistan. 900 disappointed fans were told of the cancellation on Monday evening. The group were due to play at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Tata Theatre. Mumbai police and the State Home Department continue to give no comment or explanation for the refusal.

British musicians Phillip Achille and Steve Lodder had travelled to India for the performance. One of the organisers said, ”our musicians are unhappy. This is heartbreaking and disappointing, even more so because the Gundecha Brothers (musicians from Bhopal, India) are performing in Karachi (Pakistan) currently, while the Pakistani musicians are made to feel so small by our folks.”