Pakistani Scientist Mohammed Khalil Chishty released on Bail from Ajmer Jail

Pakistani scientist Mohammed Khalil Chishty was released on bail from Ajmer jail on 11 April 2012. Chishty, 80, was lodged in the Ajmer jail in a two decade old murder case.

The Supreme Court bench of justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar took into account the ailing condition of scientist and the prolonged period of time that he has been in India, while granting him the bail. Chishty was asked by the court to furnish a personal bond of 1 lakh rupees and two securities of 50000 rupees each in a fast track court.

Chishty, a virologist by profession, had come to visit his sick mother in Ajmer in 1992 when he got entangled in a dispute. One of his neighbours was shot dead while his nephew got injured in the violent brawl.

Release of Pakistani scientist Chishty from Ajmer jail, has also given a fresh lease of  hope to the release of Sarabjeet Singh, an Indian citizen lodged in Pakistani jail for past 22 years. The Indian government has made considerable efforts to persuade Pakistani establishment to release Sarabjeet from the prison, to avail no success.

Sarabjeet, who is imprisoned in the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, was awarded with capital punishment by the Anti-Terrorist Court in 1991 for his alleged involvement in 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. Though his hanging has been postponed for several times, the Pakistani establishment has shown gross reluctance in granting Srabjeet the clemency.