JAIPUR: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday flayed the verdict of Indian court against Bollywood actor Salman Khan who has been sentenced to five years jail for poaching.

Criticising the status of minorities in neighbouring India,the minister said; "Salman Khan has been sentenced because he's a minority." adding that to sentence him five years jail in a case of 1998 blackbuck poaching, that was twenty years old, shows that lives of Muslims, 'untouchables' or Christians are not valued in India.

Speaking with Geo News, Foreign Minister said; " if Salman Khan had belonged to the religion of the ruling party of India he would not have been sentenced and the court might have been lenient with him."

Earlier on  Thursday Indian court handed down five years jail term to Bollywood superstar in a two-decades-old blackbuck poaching case.

Salman, one of India’s most recognisable actors, was taken into police custody and driven to jail after the sentencing amid chaotic scenes outside court.

Salman Khan along with Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari and a local resident, Dushyant Singh was accused of killing two of the endangered species.