Salman Khan has been sentenced because he's a minority: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif 

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a controversial statement on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's jail sentence. While slamming the five-year jail term given to Salman Khan by a Jodhpur Court, Asif said the verdict was "discriminatory."

 

"Salman Khan has been sentenced because he's a minority," said Khawaja Asif while speaking to a Pakistani media house.

 

Asif further said that to sentence Salman in a case that is twenty years old goes on to show that lives of those who are Muslims, 'untouchables' or Christians are not valued in India.

To sentence him in a case that is twenty years old goes on to show that lives of those who are Muslims, 'untouchables' or Christians are not valued in India.

 

"May be if he belonged to the religion of the ruling party of India he would not have been given such a harsh sentence and the court might have been lenient with him," he added.

 

WATCH| Salman Khan Sentenced To Five Years In Jail After Conviction In 1998 Blackbuck Poaching Case

Earlier on Thursday, Salman Khan was sentenced to 5 years in jail after being convicted in the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case by a Jodhpur court. The co-accused in the case, including Sonali Bendre, Neelam, Tabu and Saif Ali Khan were given the benefit of doubt and acquitted in the case.Salman Khan's sisters had broken down when he was held guilty. The actor's lawyers had argued for probation while the prosecution had argued for maximum punishment.

The verdict which was a big blow to Salman Khan, also came as a big shock and disappointment for the Bollywood film fraternity. The celebs were so shocked that they issued bizarre statements on why he should be released.

READ| I Am Extremely Shocked: Subhash Ghai On Salman Khan Being Convicted In Blackbuck Poaching Case

Bollywood bigwigs like Jaya Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, filmmaker Subhash Ghai expressed their shock at the verdict. 

Salman Khan was sentenced to 5 years in jail almost after 20 years of being charged in the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case