JAIPUR/AJMER: Three-and-a-half months after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari announced a donation of Rs 5 crore to the Ajmer Dargah during his visit to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty, the money is yet to reach here.
TOI spoke on phone with Pakistan's minister for population welfare, Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, and minister of state for parliamentary affairs, Mehreen Anwar Raja, on the status of the donation, but both passed the buck to the President's office, indicating that the government has nothing to do with Zardari's pledge.
Asked whether the donation would come from the government or Zardari's personal wealth, the ministers said only the President could answer that question. The Pakistan High Commission, too, failed to respond to the proposed development projects at the shrine by the dargah committee (a government recognized body) and Anjuman Syed Zadgan comitee (of hereditary khadims). The proposals include construction of an old age home, a 100-bed hospital and a new building of Darul Uloom (Islamic seminary). "It is unimaginable that the head of an Islamic state has failed to fulfill his words before this revered shrine," said a member of dargah committee.
High commission sources said Zardari's announcement came when several Pakistani cities were facing acute power and water crisis, leading to riots in many places. The Supreme Court's axing then Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, too, created a turbulent time for Zardari, they said.
"A section of people (in Pakistan) criticizing the donation at the cost of public interest may have forced Zardari to remain tightlipped despite questions raised by the media," said high commission sources.
Zardari visited the 12th century shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty with his son and chairman of Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Ali Bhutto on April 8.
Minutes before his cavalcade left the dargah, he asked the Anjuman Syed Zadgan Committee to "get in touch with Pakistan High Commission" for release of the grant. The high commission showed urgency and sought development proposals from the dargah committee and Anjum Syed Zadgan committee. Heads of several states have visited the Ajmer shrine. The dargah has a record of such visits since 1455.
Syed Sarwar Chystey, hereditary Khadim and former secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan committee, said former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, too, had announced a donation of Rs 10 lakh which was released by high commission within a month.
Edited By Cen Fox Post Team
