Hyderabad: Pakistan's federal minister for population and welfare will be among the host of VIPs attending the wedding of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malek.
Firdous Ashiq Awan will be accompanied by a couple of Pakistani MPs. The population minister will be delivering a special gift and extend greetings from Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gialni.
According to media reports, Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain was likely to join the delegation, but the report is yet to be confirmed.
Awan said that she will arrive in Hyderabad on April 14.
Several stars from the world of sports and entertainment are also expected to be part of 1,000 odd mix of guests invited for the reception on April 15.
According to the Mirza family, the reception at Taj Krishna will be preceded by a Nikah ceremony which will be strictly a private affair and will be held at their home in Jubilee Hills.
While a Pakistani minister and MPs will indeed make the occasion very high profile, no central minister from India will likely attend the function.
Sources said that the guests at the reception will be treated to a number of delicacies from both India and Pakistan. There will be Irani Haleem, varieties of Hyderabad biryani, Qubani sweets and a range of chicken and mutton dishes.
Apart from the delicacies the guest will also have a feast for their ears as famous Hyderbadi Ghazal singer and Sania's relative Talat Aziz will sing songs for the newly-wed couple.
The glittering ballroom at the Taj Krishna will bedecorated to match the occasion.
It was also in Taj Khrishna where Sania's engagement to a family friend, Sohrab Mirza, was held two years ago.
Pre-nuptial activities
Meanwhile, Shoaib and Sania continue to remain out of reach of the media.
The Mirza family, feeling uncomfortable under the constant gaze of the media, has appointed Rucha Naik as its spokesperson.
Naik will brief the media about developments and activities on the wedding.
Between now and the big day, a series of other programmes including a bachelor's party were planned.
On April 13 the two families will have a Sangeet night or a pre-nuptial party meant to break the ice and develop familiarity of the bride and groom with each others' families.
