‘Missing’ Clerics Return From Pakistan, Will Meet Sushma Swaraj
The two are slated to meet Sushma Swaraj today.
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The two Indian Sufi clerics, who were reported to be missing in Pakistan, returned to India on 20 March.
Syed Asif Nizami, the head priest (Sajjadanashin) of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami, were reported missing after they travelled to Lahore on 8 March.
Upon their arrival in New Delhi, the two clerics thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her efforts. The clerics are scheduled to meet the minister later in the day.
Nazim Ali Nizami refused to respond to questions about whether the two were detained by Pakistani authorities. He said there would be an official statement on the matter after the meeting with Swaraj.
Nizami also rubbished reports published in Pakistani publication Ummat, which claimed the two clerics were working on behalf of India’s spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
On Saturday, Swaraj took up the issue of the clerics’ disappearance with Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz.
According to Pakistani media, both clerics were in "interior Sindh where there was no communication network" and that is why they could not inform their relatives about their whereabouts.
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