Ajmer shrine official to boycott Pakistan PM’s visit

Jaipur : Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf’s visit to the world-famous shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer Saturday has run into a controversy with a prominent shrine official deciding to boycott it to protest the beheading of an Indian soldier.

“I have decided to boycott him when he comes here along with his family to perform prayers. I have not even asked for the pass to be in the dargah premises when the prime minister reaches here,” Diwan Sayed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said in a statement Friday.

The diwan is the first person to welcome the head of other nations on the main Nizam gate as they arrive at the shrine.

The diwan said his boycott is in protest of the inhuman acts of beheading of Indian soldiers and also atrocities on minorities in Pakistan, which, he said, is against the teaching of Islam.

“It would have been better if Pakistan prime minister would have come here after bringing back the head of the soldiers and personally apologizing to the people of India and also seeking forgiveness from the family of these soldiers,” he said.

“I cannot stop Pakistan prime minister from coming here but I hope he (the prime minister) understands the meaning and the reason of this boycott,” he added.

On the other hand, the shrine’s Anjuman committee has decided to welcome Ashraf Saturday.

“Ashraf is coming to the shrine of great saint Khawaja Garib Nawaz and he is our guest. We and the administration are prepared to welcome him,” said committee secretary Sayed Wajid Angara.

“We do not know the reason of the statement released by the diwan but we are determined to do our job and accord warm welcome to the Pakistan prime minister on his visit here,” he added.