NEW DEHLI:
The resolute family of octogenarian Dr Khaleel Chishty, imprisoned in India on charges of murder, has reached Delhi to plead for his release with everyone that they can meet.
Eleven months after he was convicted and jailed, his wife Begum Mehrunnisa, daughter Shoa Jawaid and grandson Ali Ghalib Chishty flew to India from Karachi to meet him in the hope that his (Dr Chishty’s) pardon – pending with Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patel – will be approved.
“My grandfather has missed out on a major part of his life ... he has been away from his family for 19 years. Isn’t that punishment enough for a man who can only be accused of being at the wrong place at the wrong time?” says Ali Ghalib.
During a 30-minute meeting with his family on Thursday, Dr Chishty told them about his life in jail, puffing on a beeri instead of the cigars that he was used to. “You don’t know how I survive here,” he had told them.
But while Ali Ghalib acknowledges the support he has received from several sections in India, there seems to be little hope for his grandfather’s release.
“The only ray of hope for him [Dr Chishty] lies in Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon or suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases,” says Kavita Srivastava, secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
Srivastava said that Rajashtan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sent the petition for pardon to Governor Patil in May, but it was returned with several queries and concerns that could be dubbed as legal and factual. “About four weeks ago, a reply was sent to the governor. It is time he responded to this humanitarian call and signed the pardon, as advised by the [Indian] cabinet ... It would be a fitting gesture by India to send Chishty back home at the earliest. The Chishty family is here, and what better gift can we give them than the pardon from the governor?”
The family is due to meet Dr Chishty again on Tuesday. “Jail authorities have forbidden Urdu books and I could not find an English translation of the Akbarnama. But we have managed to pick up two other books he asked for – Karen Armstrong’s The Battle for God and A History of Jerusalem. We will give these to him on Tuesday,” his daughter told reporters.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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Pakistanis are fools if they believe India is better than them. The only thing going for Indians right now is confidence in their business circle.
I have been to their rural areas and i saw people literally eating rats. Although i think its part of their religion.
@Moulvi Nawaz Shareef: the employer pay only for anti-Pakistan, anti-humanitarian senseless propaganda.
Why don't I see people like Cautious, Realist (Original), Mirza and Ashok Sai commenting on reports like this...... height of hypocrisy!!!
19 years is too much a even for murderer ....release him as soon as possible ......Let him see his grandson...GI should put all differences aside on this humanitarian issue and release him . We can't behave like Israeli or chini gov . Again this is not any anti-national or terrorist activity .
He should be relleased at the earliest not political drama is required...Its purely a humanitarian ground and their is no reason to keep such old men in jail anymore...
Indian (in)justice system. This is the reason, India is world's largest fascist autocracy