Humanitarian Request: Judge appeals for Dr Chishty’s release

Indian Supreme Court Judge makes strong appeal to the Indian government to release Pakistani Dr Khaleel Chishty.

NEW DELHI: Indian Supreme Court Judge Markandeya Katju, who retired from the court on Monday, made a strong appeal – a second one – to the Indian government to release Pakistani national Dr Khaleel Chishty. “I once again repeat my appeal to the Indian government through the prime minister to release Dr Khaleel Chishty who is in Ajmer jail. He is 80-year-old and has not very long to live. He was an eminent virologist in the Karachi Medical College and was a PhD from Edinburgh University,” Katju told the media at his residence. “In the name of humanity I appeal to the Indian government to release him and allow him to get back home in Karachi to his wife and daughter who live there,” he added. Katju said that the Pakistani government had honoured his appeal and released Gopal Das from a Pakistani jail. “I am sad that the Indian government has not yet honoured my appeal made several months ago to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Hon’ble Home Minister, and His Excellency the Governor of Rajasthan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2011.