BOMBAY, 27 June 2006 — A Bollywood delegation, citing security and visa concerns, has canceled a visit to Pakistan for the screening of one of the few movies to beat a 40-year-old ban on Indian films, a Pakistani organizer said yesterday.

The decision by about 50 members of the Indian film industry to ditch a showing in Karachi of the 1960 classic “Mughal-e-Azam,” is in keeping with the faltering peace process the South Asian rivals began over two years ago.

“We have been told by our Indian managers there were some visa issues with the security to travel with the Indians,” said Hafeez, media manager for the organizers.

“They had concerns and have put off their visit,” he said, adding the screening of the romantic epic has been canceled.

Earlier, a top Bollywood lyricist, Javed Akhtar, had said Pakistan had refused him a visa to attend the event. Yesterday, Akhtar refuted reports in the Indian media that he had demanded an apology from Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

“My statement has been twisted, exaggerated and misinterpreted by the Indian media. If the Pakistan government wants to apologize, that is up to them, but I did not make such a demand or suggestion,” Akhtar clarified.

“What I said in reply to a question by the media, was that I would certainly visit Pakistan provided I am invited by President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the minister of information and broadcasting or the foreign minister. But I would not visit Pakistan if invited by some organizer or an individual,” he said.