Meera appeals to UK for visa to meet cancer-patient sister

LONDON: Famous Pakistani actress Meera has appealed to Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Jane Marriott to consider her visa application to the United Kingdom “on merit” so she can visit her sister who is getting treatment for cancer in London.

Meera applied for the United Kingdom visa this week. In January, Geo News had revealed that Meera’s entry to the United Kingdom was banned for 10 years by the UK immigration authorities. The ban is now over.

“I request the UK authorities to look at my case on merit. I couldn’t visa for the UK due to a miscommunication. My home is in London and my family lives there. My sister is a cancer patient. I must visit London. Please issue me visa on merit,” said Meera, whose real name is Syeda Irtiza Rubab - globally recognised for her work in Lollywood, starring in commercially successful films and excelling in modelling.

Papers show the UK authorities refused entry to Meera over 10 years ago and subjected her to “restriction of movements” — which the family has blamed on confusion out of an English language interview where Meera couldn’t understand questions of the interviewing officer and vice versa.

This January, Shafqat Zahra Bukhari, Meera’s mother, had made a heartfelt appeal to the UK High Commission in Pakistan to grant Meera a visa so she can travel to the UK to meet her family and work.

Speaking to Geo News, Meera’s mother said: “The entry ban is finished. Meera should be allowed to enter the UK. There are several film projects she plans to do in the UK.