20 years after… : A homecoming dream rekindled
In an unexpected move, India’s apex court not only bailed out Dr Chishty but also agreed to hear a separate petition that he serve out the rest of his bail in Karachi. The Supreme Court asked his attorney to file a separate petition for this.
Dr Chishty is 80 now. Indian television channels showed a frail, wizened, bearded man, blinking in the sunlight, being carried out of a prison by two people after the court order was pronounced. Dr Chishty developed myriad health problems in jail, including a broken hip after a fall.
Dr Chisty’s bail seems to be an immediate outcome of President Asif Ali Zardari’s lunch meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday when the two reportedly discussed the case. Top Indian government officials said the prime minister had indicated that he would personally look into the matter.
This was after a plea for clemency, which was processed speedily by the provincial government and the Indian home ministry, was held up by the governor of Rajasthan state, where Dr Chishty was arrested and convicted.
Dr Chishty was sentenced for killing a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992. He was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Since then, he has not been allowed to travel back to Pakistan.
In January last year, Dr Chishty was awarded life imprisonment after an 18-year-long trial. Till then, he had remained largely under house arrest in Rajasthan, his lawyers say.
After he was given the life sentence, he was put in the Ajmer prison.
Now, India is hoping to hear good news about the fate of Sarabjit Singh who has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for spying, though he says he merely strayed into Pakistan by mistake.
Family eagerly awaits Dr Chishty’s arrival
In Karachi, Dr Chisty’s family is eagerly waiting for his arrival. The only information the family had was through the media, but his daughter, Shoa Jawaid said they would be ‘ecstatic’ when her father finally comes home.
“We don’t have many details right now like on what grounds he was released, but we know that for the time being he is in Ajmer,” she said. “At least we would be able to talk to him and visit him.”
Human rights activist Ansar Burney said he is leaving for Ajmer on Wednesday to file a fresh petition in the Supreme Court to appeal for Dr Chishty’s return to Pakistan.
(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RABIA ALI IN KARACHI)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2012.
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@Raj:
We saw no reciprocation when Gopal Das was freed last year?
@What about Idris Chishty?: Idris Chishty was not killed by Khalil Chishty.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-curious-case-of-dr-chishti/808685/3
In this article, the actual perpetrator, acknowledges how it wasnt Chishty who fired the shot but was just brought into the brawl cause he was a Pakistani.
"Yaseer claims that Chishti was innocent and it was in fact him—a juvenile then—who fired the gun. “I was a juvenile then so they could not make me an accused. Since chacha jaan is a Pakistani, they found him an easy target. Even I was detained but I was released,” he says"
That said, in no way do I not feel the pain for the family of Idris Chishty. What happened 20 years ago is completely uncalled for. But now, even if he was remotely involved in the situation, Khalil Chishty has paid the price of it more than anyone else in this situation. He should be sent back.
@Raj: We will think about it....
Dont expect Sarbajeet Singh’s bail from us.
dont use rajput name, its not yours
Dont expect Sarbajeet Singh's bail from us.
President zardari zindabad. Bhutto zindabad.
"In January last year, Dr Chishty was awarded life imprisonment after an 18-year-long trial. Till then, he had remained largely under house arrest in Rajasthan, his lawyers say". So much for the Indian Justice system that can hold a trial for 18 years. Shame on you
What about sarabjit who's been rotting in pak jail without any reason
why so much efforts for 80 year old Dr chishtee, not for hundreds others who are only bread winners for their families?
It is a great example of Indian SC judges working for strengthening and supporting their democratic leaders and peace process so promptly and positively. For details read the actual remarks of the judges regarding President Zardari’s visit and peace process.
Now Pakistan should release Sarbjit Singh languishing in Lahore Jail. Dr Chishty's twenty years seem peanuts compared to Kashmir Singh's thirty four years. http://pakistaniat.com/2008/03/04/pakistan-frees-kashmir-singh-reaches-india-after-34-years/
This is injustice - Khalil is benefiting from political rapprochement between India-Pakistan to please the other side. In this story, we forget about justice for the victim. Khalil Chishty murdered Idris Chishty, a distant family relative. His victim, Khalil shot dead Idris at a family function in front of a number of witnesses over an old dispute. Idris in his early 40s was the sole bread-winner for his family and left behind young kids. His family was not as well off as Khalil's. Khalil should pay for this crime by spending the rest of his life in jail.
"Dr Chisty’s bail seems to be an immediate outcome of President Asif Ali Zardari’s lunch meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh" If that is the direction hereafter its great news.