Zardari appeals to Singh to release Dr Chishti

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari has appealed to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh to release and repatriate Pakistani citizen Dr Khalil Chishti on humanitarian grounds. President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the president had made this appeal in a letter written to the Indian PM. The letter was sent on Friday to Pakistani high commissioner in India for onward delivery to Singh, he said. Babar said Zardari had taken up this matter during his meeting with Singh in New Delhi on April 7.
Text of the letter: “Excellency! Allow me to express my profound thanks for your kind hospitality extended to me, to Bilawal and my entourage during our brief stay in New Delhi. The sumptuous lunch provided us an opportunity to discuss many issues of mutual interest. Excellency, during the course of our meeting, my Interior Minister, A Rehman Malik broached the subject of Dr Khalil Chishti’s prolonged incarceration in India with Mr P Chidambaram, honourable Home Minister of India. I also beseeched your indulgence on this issue. I understand that mercy petition filed by Dr Chishti is pending with the Government of India. 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. Please accept, excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.” online

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