Thaindian News

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Sep 21 (IANS) A three-member Pakistani delegation Wednesday met social activist Anna Hazare at his village to seek his opinion on starting an anti-graft drive in their country.

Former Pakistan law minister Iqbal Haider, Pakistan Supreme Court’s former judge Nazir Aslam Zahid, and trade unionist Karamat Ali also invited the 74-year-old activist to visit Pakistan to initiate a movement similar to the one he launched in India.

The meeting was held at Hazare’s hometown in Ralegan-Siddhi.

“Hazare’s movement has become a topic of great significance in Pakistan and other countries in the world. On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we congratulated him. We have invited him to Pakistan and he has accepted it,” Justice Zahid told reporters after the meeting.

The meeting was organised by NGO Sarhad.

“The delegation had an over three-hour long discussion with Annaji about starting a similar movement in their country because both have similar problems of corruption and terrorism,” Sarhad head Sanjay Nahar told IANS.

Hazare went on a 12-day fast in the capital last month to press his demand for a strong anti-graft bill, attracting the support of a large section of people.

The visiting delegation also apprised Hazare of Pakistani social activist Raja Jehangir Akhtar, who has been on hunger strike in Islamabad since Sep 12, seeking an anti-corruption legislation in the country.

The delegation urged Hazare not to limit his anti-corruption crusade to India, but extend it to all over South Asia.

While agreeing that there was a need for similar movements in neighbouring countries, Hazare said the success in India was mainly due to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

The delegation, which arrived in India Sep 16 to take up the cause of Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails for years, will leave for home Thursday.