Dr Chishty case update: PUCL urges Rajastan CM to move file The campaign to free Pakistani virologist Dr Chishty from Indian prison continues
On September 5, 2011, a delegation of People's Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, met Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan at the morning "Jan Sunwai" (public audience) at his residence. One of the items on their agenda was a renewed appeal to free the elderly, retired Pakistani virologist Dr Khalil Chishty from prison in Ajmer.

The Chief Minister took the letter, separated it from the other memos given to him by the PUCL delegation, and handed it to his assistant, saying that it was a "sensitive issue" which should be put in the file made for the Governor. He also promised PUCL Secretary General Kavita Srivastava that he would give her separate time to discuss this issue.

That same evening, CM Gehlot met Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil. However, he did not hand over the file.

At the time of writing, the file has still not been sent to the Governor. According to observers, this may be because Gehlot fears that the Governor will not sign the papers and that the file will be stuck there.

"If that is the case, the CM must send it to Delhi," demands Kavita Srivastava. "Once the file has been sent to Delhi, we can take it up with the relevant quarters there."
- AKA

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Strings ki asha Fatima Zakir

The first time Pakistan's Strings went to India was in 2001, to perform and promote their album Duur, released after a long hiatus. Who knew back then .....more

Common interests and common future Against the backdrop of the recent meeting between foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Thimpu (Bhutan) where they agreed to resume dialogue on all outstanding is .....more

Aman Ki Asha concert in Ajmer Even before the Aman Ki Asha concert at the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer began on Saturday morning, both the performers and the visitors had been enchanted.

The location .....more

Shankar, Shafqat raise the peace pitch NEW DELHI: A common history stood in the backdrop as music strengthened the bond between two nations. A day after the qawwals had stirred up emotions in Ajmer, singers Sh .....more

The Shankar-Shafqat concert in Delhi After an Indo-Pak qawwali performance in Ajmer, Aman Ki Asha brings together two versatile musicians - Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan of Pakistan and Shankar Mahadevan from Indi .....more

Aman ka magic in Ajmer The members of Fareed Ayaz Abu Mohammad Qawwal and Brothers from Pakistan have spent the past few days in great excitement.

It's not just that they're doing a conc .....more