SC sets to take up plea on educationist jailed in India

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday will take up issue of Dr Saiyyad Mohammad Khaleel Chishty, an educationist and scientist, currently languishing in a jail in Indian Ajmer district.

A three-Judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would resume hearing of a plea moved by Syed Iqbal Haider, counsel for Shoa Jawaid, daughter of jailed doctor and office bearer of All Pakistan Women's Association (Apwa) and the Legal Aid Call Centre (LACC).

During last hearing, the bench had issued notices to the ministries of interior and foreign affairs to apprise it over the issue.

According to the contents of petition, Dr Chishty had gone to see his ailing mother in India in 1992, but was implicated in a murder case.

In December last year, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court of the special judge in India.

The Supreme Court is requested to ask the government to make diplomatic efforts for the release and repatriation of Dr Chishty on humanitarian grounds.

The petition also prayed to Court to make a request to the Indian President and Prime Minister and Governor of Rajasthan to order the release and repatriation of Dr Chishty after remitting his sentence, like the apex Court of India had requested the President of Pakistan for the release of Indian national Gopal Dass, which was accepted and he was repatriated to India.

Dr Chishty, 78, did his PhD from Edinburg University in Scotland. He also holds a degree in biology from the London University, besides, he had served as a professor in universities in Karachi, Jeddah, Nigeria and Iran. (APP)