Ajmer Sharif's head to boycott PM Ashraf's visit
Zainul Abedin Ali Khan says it will be a dishounour to the soldiers who were allegedly killed by Pakistan on the LoC.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: PID
NEW DELHI:
A day before prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is due to visit Ajmer Sharif for a private visit, the shrine’s spiritual head has refused to extend the same welcome that was given to President Asif Ali Zardari last year, Times of India reported.
Ajmer Sharif dargah dewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Friday said that he will not assist Ashraf in offering prayers at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
"It will be a dishonor to the families of the Indian soldiers who were beheaded by Pak army," Khan said.
"I have no idea why he (Pakistan PM) is coming here."
He added that he would be boycotting Ashraf's visit. "I have decided to boycott the visit (to protest) the brutal killing of our Indian solders by the Pakistani army."
Khan said he would also protest Ashraf's trip because of alleged ill-treatment of Hindus in Pakistan.
"There are incidents of atrocities on minorities in Pakistan and we have seen people from the Hindu community migrating to India on account of religious, financial and social persecution in Pakistan," he said.
"I am against that, and to express my feelings, I decided to boycott the visit," Khan said.
Ashraf is scheduled to undertake a private visit to the Sufi shrine on Saturday. He will not visit New Delhi, an official said on Thursday.
Khurshid to host lunch
While President Asif Ali Zardari in his private visit to the shrine last year was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, no such welcome has been extended for Ashraf. Instead, the external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has extended an invitation for lunch at the Rambag Palace Hotel in Ajmer.
"No substantive talks are scheduled" between the two sides, the external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a news briefing. The external affairs ministry further confirmed that it would facilitate the day-long private visit Ashraf.
Ajmer bar council protests
Ajmer Bar Association President Rajesh Tandon described the visit as "intolerable" and warned that lawyers would symbolically cleanse the road on which the Pakistani leader travelled to mark their protest.
"This is intolerable for an Indian because of the beheading of our soldier at the LoC," Tandon said.
A day before prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is due to visit Ajmer Sharif for a private visit, the shrine’s spiritual head has refused to extend the same welcome that was given to President Asif Ali Zardari last year, Times of India reported.
Ajmer Sharif dargah dewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Friday said that he will not assist Ashraf in offering prayers at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
"It will be a dishonor to the families of the Indian soldiers who were beheaded by Pak army," Khan said.
"I have no idea why he (Pakistan PM) is coming here."
He added that he would be boycotting Ashraf's visit. "I have decided to boycott the visit (to protest) the brutal killing of our Indian solders by the Pakistani army."
Khan said he would also protest Ashraf's trip because of alleged ill-treatment of Hindus in Pakistan.
"There are incidents of atrocities on minorities in Pakistan and we have seen people from the Hindu community migrating to India on account of religious, financial and social persecution in Pakistan," he said.
"I am against that, and to express my feelings, I decided to boycott the visit," Khan said.
Ashraf is scheduled to undertake a private visit to the Sufi shrine on Saturday. He will not visit New Delhi, an official said on Thursday.
Khurshid to host lunch
While President Asif Ali Zardari in his private visit to the shrine last year was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, no such welcome has been extended for Ashraf. Instead, the external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has extended an invitation for lunch at the Rambag Palace Hotel in Ajmer.
"No substantive talks are scheduled" between the two sides, the external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a news briefing. The external affairs ministry further confirmed that it would facilitate the day-long private visit Ashraf.
Ajmer bar council protests
Ajmer Bar Association President Rajesh Tandon described the visit as "intolerable" and warned that lawyers would symbolically cleanse the road on which the Pakistani leader travelled to mark their protest.
"This is intolerable for an Indian because of the beheading of our soldier at the LoC," Tandon said.