NEW DELHI: The spiritual head of the Ajmer Sharif has refused to assist Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in prayers, triggering a controversy ahead of his private visit to the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer on Saturday, media reported on Friday.
Pakistan PM Raja Pervez Ashraf’s visit comes around two months after ceasefire violations on the Line of Control that led to heightened tensions between the two neighbours.
“It will be a dishonor to the families of the Indian soldiers who were beheaded by Pak army,” Ajmer Sharif dargah dewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan said. “I have no idea why he (Pakistan PM) is coming here,” he said.
The PM will be hosted for lunch by external affairs minister Salman Khurshid at the Hotel Rambag Palace in Ajmer on that day.
“No substantive talks are scheduled” between the two sides, the external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a news briefing. The external affairs ministry is facilitating the day-long private visit of the Pakistan prime minister, he said.
DND
