Zardari writes to PM, asks for Chishti's repatriation

Islamabad/New Delhi: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow the release and repatriation on humanitarian grounds of Khalil Chishti, an 80-year-old Pakistani given a life sentence in India after being convicted for murder.

Mr Zardari made the appeal in a personal letter addressed to the Indian Prime Minister, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. The letter was sent to Pakistan's High Commissioner in India today for delivery to the Indian premier.

The President had taken up the issue of Dr Chishti with Prime Minister Singh during a meeting in New Delhi last Sunday, Mr Babar said. Mr Zardari met Dr Singh over lunch while on a day-long private visit to India.

In his letter to Dr Singh, the Pakistan President wrote: "In view of Dr Chisti's advanced age and his precarious health condition, may I request Your Excellency to intervene in the matter and allow Dr Chisti's release and repatriation to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. Your kind gesture would add momentum to the goodwill generated after resumption of the Composite Dialogue between the two countries."

He added: "I understand that the mercy petition filed by Dr Chishti is pending with the government of India."

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Mr Zardari noted that Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik too had taken up the issue of Dr Chishti's "prolonged incarceration" with his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram when they met on April 8.

Earlier today, Mr Zardari ordered authorities to take "every possible step" to bring home Dr Chishti. He directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to make "all arrangements to bring back Dr Khalil Chishti to Pakistan", an official statement said.

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All expenditures for Dr Chishti's return to Pakistan will be paid by the government, it said.

The statement said directions had also been issued to Pakistan's High Commissioner in India, Shahid Malik, to take steps for the repatriation of Chishti.

Dr Chishti was accused of involvement in the murder of a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992. At the time, he was visiting India to meet relatives and to offer prayers at the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

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In January last year, Dr Chishti was given life imprisonment after an 18-year trial. After the sentencing, he was detained in Ajmer Jail. On April 9, India?s Supreme Court ordered his release on bail. Dr Chishti has been ailing and is unable to walk without help.

India's Supreme Court has agreed to hear his plea to return to Pakistan and asked his lawyers to file a separate petition in this regard.

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In his letter to the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Zardari thanked Dr Singh for the hospitality extended to him, "Bilawal and my entourage during our brief stay in New Delhi".

He wrote: "The sumptuous lunch provided us an opportunity to discuss many issues of mutual interest."