Ansar Burney urges India to release Dr Chisty

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Ansar Burney Trust, Ansar Burney has once again urged India to release a Pakistani national, Professor Dr Mohammad Khaleel Chisty, who is facing life sentence in a jail of Ajmer Sharif, after 18 years of painful trial.

Ansar Burney has sent letters to Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling for the release of the octogenarian prisoner on Independence day of India.

Ansar Burney said it will be a good gesture for Peace (Aman Ki Aasha) in the region and would also help to improve relations between the two neighbouring countries.

Mohammad Khaleel Chisty, was arrested on March 14, 1992 on charges of alleged murder of one Idris in a group clash on the premises of the famous Dargah of Sufi Saint Khuwaja Moinuddin Chisti Ajmeri in Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan.

What appeared to be an altercation among cousins at the Baitul Salim Manzil reportedly turned bloody and Idris died after he sustained serious wounds from a gunshot.

Burney said after a case was registered in the Ganj police station in Ajmer, Dr Mohammad Khaleel Chisti, who was a reputed virologist in Pakistan, was put on a prolonged trial along with three others, Yasir Chisti, Akil Chisti and Farooq Chisti - under Sections, 307, 302, 324, 323 of the Indian Penal Code and now after prolonged trial sentenced for life imprisonment.

Ansar Burney said that on January 31, this year a trial court in Ajmer Sharif, convicted and sentenced Dr Chisti and the other accused under Section 302, read with Sections 34 and 324 of the Indian Panel Code to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs.20,000.

Later an appeal for suspension of sentence, moved by Dr. Chisti in the Rajasthan High Court, was very sadly rejected on the ground that Chisty was a Pakistani national and "no leniency" could be shown in his case but the plea for suspension of sentence from the other three was granted.

"It is so tragic and I am very much afraid that Dr. Chisti may not come out alive if he continues in the jail as at present he is of above 81 years of age. He is immobilized and unable to walk or stand so someone has to carry him to the bathroom. He also has fractured his left hip and is also showing symptoms of palsy as well heart patient," Ansar Burney said in his appeal for amnesty.

Burney added that Dr. Chisty can be released even by the Governor of Rajasthan as well as the Indian Constitution gives Governors powers to grant pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment, including life sentence to any person.

Ansar Burney assured Indian Government that the Ansar Burney Trust International is ready to give any bail or guarantee if India will agree to release Proffessor Chisti on humanitarian grounds.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011