Hyderabad, Oct. 3 -- The Pakistani government has refused to grant a visa to a 29-year-old man from Kerala who covered 3,000 kilometer journey on foot to Makkah to perform Haj.

On Sunday, the Shahi Imam of Punjab, Maulana Mohammad Usman Ludhianvi, issued a statement in a press conference and said that Shihab Chottur is being denied visa by the Pakistan government.

Speaking to a media, Shahi Imam said, "The Embassy of Pakistan in Delhi first assured Shihab Chottur to start the Haj pilgrimage on foot, when he reach close to the Indo-Pakistan border, he will be given a visa to Pakistan."

Shahi Imam further adds, "The Embassy gave the logic that the visa would expire if given in advance. So the visa would be issued as soon as Shihab would ...