Giving hint towards Pakistan’s conspiracy to convict innocent Indians, one of the Sufi clerics, who had gone missing in Pakistan, on Monday revealed that one of the papers in the neighbouring country had printed false news of them being Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agents.
The duo arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and went to pay obeisance at the shrine where they spoke to media.
Syed Asif Ali Nizami, the head priest of Delhi’s Hazrat Nizammuddin Aulia Dargah, and his nephew Syed Nazim Ali Nizami were not traceable between March 14 and 18.
The clerics blamed Pakistani daily Ummat for falsely reporting that the duo were agents of India’s Research and Analysis Wing and had links with the Muttahida Quami Movement. “There is a newspaper Ummat [in Pakistan] that has printed false statements,” Nazim Nizami said. Asif Nizami’s son Sajid said that they had been detained by Pakistani officials on the basis of that report.
Nazim Ali Nizami did reject Pakistani media reports that they were in “interior Sindh where there was no communication network”.
“We did not have visa for Sindh interior region, so how could we have gone there? We come from the school of sufi which teaches peace and brotherhood. There are good and bad elements and those who go against the teachings they have to suffer humiliation,” he said.
When asked as to why they were “interrogated”, Nazim said they were asked about their visa and other immigration details.
Amir Nizami, son of Asif Nizami who is the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, thanked the Indian government for its intervention in ensuring the return of his father and Ali Nizami.
“Both are fine. We are thankful to the Indian Government for all the support in securing their return,” Amir said.
The cleric thanked the Government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for their efforts.
They were offloaded from Karachi-bound Shaheen Airlines on March 14 at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, the Pakistani sources had said.
