Fighting corruption: Anna Hazare agrees to visit Pakistan
Hazare gave his consent at the Ralegan Siddhi village when he was visited by former Supreme Court judge Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and eminent peace activist Karamat Ali on Wednesday.
(Read: In search of a Hazare)
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ali said:
Many people in Pakistan have been inspired by Hazare. We would like him to visit our country and meet those who want to fight against corruption.
Hazare said that he would like to visit Pakistan if it "helped the anti-corruption movement there."
Once I recover from the weakness and complete India yatra, I am going to visit Pakistan.
Earlier, the social activist had carried out a 13-day 'peaceful' hunger strike against corruption in India. His protest focused on the anti-graft legislation known as the “Lokpal” (Ombudsman) Bill.
Hazare broke his fast on the request of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also gave in to his demands.
Following the footsteps of Hazare, noted Pakistani businessman and political activist Raja Jahangir Akhtar also began a “fast unto death” to launch a movement against burgeoning corruption, disproportionate allocations for military and rising obscurantism and intolerance.
Akhtar ended his nine-day hunger strike when parliamentarians and leaders assured him that an anti-corruption bill will be tabled in the parliament.
COMMENTS (31)
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@vickram: well 3000 sikhs make it back alive why cant he and he will be given special protocol
If Anna goes to Pakistan, I sincerely doubt if will come back alive.......
If anything happens to him, it will result in a cataclysmic nuclear war between the two countries... May better sense prevail on Anna and his team !
@Jayant Moghe: Knowing Anna it is more likely he will make them chant Pakistan Zindabad and make them sing their national anthem . If you want to make everyone in the world a patriotic Indian you will most definitely fail because your thought process is wrong if however you try to make everyone a better human you might succeed .
This is not acceptable, what a shame for us, we have been teaching civility to the world for more 1000 years and today we are seeking advice from the very same people. I am not sure if we have to, we are capable enough to carry out own fight. Mr.Hazare's principals are not based on our religious beliefs and it will also be against TNT and so we should be careful in dealing with such matters. I wonder why we are not inviting leaders from Arab Spring instead. So many able leaders lead protests across Arab world to bring change, we should take our cue from them and not from western borders.
Anna Hazare is more than welcome here. We as a nation need to be ready to stand up with a movement like Anna Hazare here in Pakistan. We have been too busy being narrowminded and shooting ourselves in the foot. Time we realised it and have a peaceful movement like Anna Hazare's.
That's really nice of him. Too bad our government is too stubborn to give into any Anna Hazare's demand, let alone, a Indian one.
@ashok: speak for your self! Pakistani's will support him.. its not like he is gonna fast for us.. his coming to Pakistan will help Raja Jahangir Akhter's cause and we appreciate that.. Please keep your pessimism to your self Indian Readers .. Pakistani whole heartedly appreciates what is good i a person and his efforts.. It doesn't matter if he is an Indian or any one else..
@Tina: It's a Pakistani delegation that invited him :) :)
Sir, we Pakistanis love you and respect you. If India is going to benefit from your movement, it WILL ultimately spark a change in Pakistan.
It's so nice of him. I am really really happy. Pakistani activists should welcome him but we should not expect him to fight for us or lead any movement here. That anti-corruption movement has to be from within us. Anna Hazare certainly will not be welcomed by our pathetic clerics and pseudo intellectual conspiracy theorists. Raja Jahangir Akhtar must restart his campaign getting inspiration from Anna Hazare. Media should give his mission some space.
Welcome sir welcome! You are an inspiration to all Pakistanis!
There are no role models in PAK who will stand up against injustices as they do against US and India?
Hazare in demand.
Hope he inspires them to chant: Bharat Mata ki Jai, Jai Hind, Inquilab Zinadabad and Vande Mataram :-) ha!ha!. If Anna Hazare has been invited, when will they invite Baba Ramdev :-)
Also, continuing from my previous post, if any meetings are held amongst decency across the Pakistan-India border, Mr. Abdul Sattar Edhi should also be involved. I would say that he is as significant a figure for populism and peace as any.
This is wonderful news! Lets not forget logistics. I think the Pakistani military needs to step forward and offer Mr. Hazare full support in terms his security and travel. As there are gems like him and Mr. Akhtar harboring populist sentiment, there are those who wouldn't want the India-Pakistan peace process to succeed. I hate to sound dramatic but sadly the corrupt benefit from disorder.
i'll b happy to hv him here in Pakistan, hope he does smthing great :D .... nice person
A very sad thing to do. Let him complete his work in India first. This is not the time to spread your wings.
The gesture must bring shame to our own protocol/security bound authorities.
You are most welcome Mr Harare!
People, goodness should be appreciated no matterwhere it comes from and no matter how little it appears !
so glad to know that
Keep him :)
He is welcomed in Pakistan.
Anna Hazare type of protests needs mass backup by civilians, I don't think Pakistan civilians will support any of these moments openly, considering the volatile situating prevailing. Its bitter but truth.
Will pak govt. issue him a visa? I doubt
That's very nice of Anna Hazare.