To the respected Governor Rajasthan Shivraj Patil...
As an ailing, aged Pakistani prisoner in an Indian jail awaits a compassionate response to his mercy appeal, activists and legal experts counter the Governor Rajasthan's objections to the pardon pending before him
By Beena Sarwar
Imagine the mental agony and suspense faced by an ailing old man sentenced to life imprisonment after nearly 20 years of incarceration without trial, now awaiting his release following an amnesty appeal that keeps getting delayed by bureaucratic concerns.
After a long and vigorous campaign by activists in India who believe that he is innocent of the charges brought against him, there was hope that Dr Khaleel Chishty, the elderly Pakistani virologist convicted for murder by a court in Ajmer, Rajasthan, would finally be released. The campaign followed the out-of-the-box judgement by the Indian Supreme Court that urged the Pakistani government "on humanitarian grounds", accepting that the matter was out of its jurisdiction, to release Indian prisoner Gopal Dass. The judgement, highlighted by Aman ki Asha, prompted the Pakistan President to use his powers of pardon to allow Dass to return to India before completing his conviction sentence.
Unfortunately, some elements in the Indian government have not been as forthcoming, despite appeals by Indian citizens to release Dr Chishty.
After studying the circumstances in detail, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan on May 18, 2011 forwarded his recommendation for a pardon to Dr Chishty, to the Governor Rajasthan. The Governor's signature, required as a formality, was the last hurdle to Dr Chishty's freedom.
However, instead of signing as expected (and as constitutionally required), Governor Shivraj Patil (who also officiates as Governor Punjab) kept the file pending. After pressure grew following Indian Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju's much-publicised letter of June 17, 2011 to the Prime Minister appealing for Dr Chishty's release, the Governor outlined a long list of points to be clarified before he would take the 'risk' of signing the Home Ministry's recommendation.
Dismayed but not daunted by the Governor's objections, the rights organisation People's Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) Rajasthan that has been campaigning for Dr Chishty responded to the points raised by the Governor on a factual basis, while Supreme Court Senior Advocate Dr Rajeev Dhawan countered the constitutional and other legal issues raised.
"We felt that the Governor had raised unfair questions which had no material basis," says Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary PUCL Rajasthan.
The Home Secretary has now sent the file back with these replies, cleared by Attorney General of Rajasthan, to the Chief Minister, who is expected to meet the Governor when he next comes to Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Dr Chishty, grateful for the efforts to free him, continues to languish at Ajmer Prison Hospital, waiting for the day when he will be united with his family in Pakistan.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Happier times: Dr Chishty in the UK with his wife and daughter
By Beena Sarwar
Imagine the mental agony and suspense faced by an ailing old man sentenced to life imprisonment after nearly 20 years of incarceration without trial, now awaiting his release following an amnesty appeal that keeps getting delayed by bureaucratic concerns.
After a long and vigorous campaign by activists in India who believe that he is innocent of the charges brought against him, there was hope that Dr Khaleel Chishty, the elderly Pakistani virologist convicted for murder by a court in Ajmer, Rajasthan, would finally be released. The campaign followed the out-of-the-box judgement by the Indian Supreme Court that urged the Pakistani government "on humanitarian grounds", accepting that the matter was out of its jurisdiction, to release Indian prisoner Gopal Dass. The judgement, highlighted by Aman ki Asha, prompted the Pakistan President to use his powers of pardon to allow Dass to return to India before completing his conviction sentence.
Unfortunately, some elements in the Indian government have not been as forthcoming, despite appeals by Indian citizens to release Dr Chishty.
After studying the circumstances in detail, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan on May 18, 2011 forwarded his recommendation for a pardon to Dr Chishty, to the Governor Rajasthan. The Governor's signature, required as a formality, was the last hurdle to Dr Chishty's freedom.
However, instead of signing as expected (and as constitutionally required), Governor Shivraj Patil (who also officiates as Governor Punjab) kept the file pending. After pressure grew following Indian Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju's much-publicised letter of June 17, 2011 to the Prime Minister appealing for Dr Chishty's release, the Governor outlined a long list of points to be clarified before he would take the 'risk' of signing the Home Ministry's recommendation.
Dismayed but not daunted by the Governor's objections, the rights organisation People's Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) Rajasthan that has been campaigning for Dr Chishty responded to the points raised by the Governor on a factual basis, while Supreme Court Senior Advocate Dr Rajeev Dhawan countered the constitutional and other legal issues raised.
"We felt that the Governor had raised unfair questions which had no material basis," says Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary PUCL Rajasthan.
The Home Secretary has now sent the file back with these replies, cleared by Attorney General of Rajasthan, to the Chief Minister, who is expected to meet the Governor when he next comes to Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Dr Chishty, grateful for the efforts to free him, continues to languish at Ajmer Prison Hospital, waiting for the day when he will be united with his family in Pakistan.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Seasonal thrills
Having them available all year round does take away from the special joy that seasonal vegetables once provided, writes Vasundhara Chauhan, sharing two 'matar'
.....more
Having them available all year round does take away from the special joy that seasonal vegetables once provided, writes Vasundhara Chauhan, sharing two 'matar'
.....more
Justice Katju again appeals for release of Dr Chishty
Recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Markandey Katju, has once again appealed to the Indian Government to release the elderly Pakistani national Dr Kha
.....more
Recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Markandey Katju, has once again appealed to the Indian Government to release the elderly Pakistani national Dr Kha
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Postcards to Faiz and the magic of art
The Faiz Art Prize is a particularly unique tribute to a poet revered in both India and Pakistan...
The birth centennial year of the great poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, revere .....more
The Faiz Art Prize is a particularly unique tribute to a poet revered in both India and Pakistan...The birth centennial year of the great poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, revere .....more
Faiz beyond poetry
Siraj Khan reports on an event commemorating the Faiz Centennial held to pay homage to a great poet revered as much by Indians as Pakistanis Kar raha tha gham-e-jahan
.....more
Siraj Khan reports on an event commemorating the Faiz Centennial held to pay homage to a great poet revered as much by Indians as Pakistanis Kar raha tha gham-e-jahan
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When music makes you dream of possibilities
As Junoon turns twenty, Vatsala Kaul Banerjee writes about why she named her Indian daughter after a Pakistani song
Sayonee, the first one named for .....more
As Junoon turns twenty, Vatsala Kaul Banerjee writes about why she named her Indian daughter after a Pakistani songSayonee, the first one named for .....more
Let the baby survive and grow
Ilmana Fasih
Nirupama Rao, now Indian ambassador to Washington, reportedly said of the Agra Summit at which Vajpayee and Musharraf met: "Though there were midw .....more
Ilmana Fasih Nirupama Rao, now Indian ambassador to Washington, reportedly said of the Agra Summit at which Vajpayee and Musharraf met: "Though there were midw .....more
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The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
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