Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, grappling with a series of problems ranging from Osama bin Laden’s killing, coup rumours, the US bounty on Hafeez Saeed, and finally friend China pointing a finger at Pakistan’s role in terror, will reach the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer with a prayer on his lips on Sunday.
In the aftermath of Bin Laden’s killing, coup rumours and health issues, Mr Zardari embarks on his first presidential visit to India to privately pay obeisance at the shrine at Ajmer Sharif. It may be recalled that Mr Zardari’s wife, the late Benazir Bhutto, had visited the dargah in 2003 and had prayed for Mr Zardari’s release from prison in Pakistan.
It is believed that the Pakistan President’s visit is related to a “mannat” that has been fulfilled. Speaking to this newspaper, Syed Iqbal Kaptan Chishti, a khadim at the dargah, said “representatives of both the Dargah Committee and Committee of Khadims will welcome the Pakistan President and other delegates at the shrine where he will also be presented a sword.
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Rahul, Bilawal at lunch
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, April 7
Meeting over lunch when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plays host to visiting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday will be the scions of two political dynasties.
The young Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who was anointed chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party at the age of 19 after his mother Benazir’s assassination, will be at the lunch as will be Nehru-Gandhi family scion Rahul Gandhi, a general secretary in the Congress party and a member of Parliament.