New Delhi: Returning home after 20 years though for a brief period, Pakistani microbiologist Khalil Chisti on Tuesday thanked the Indian judiciary and people for their support and said he will return to India as ordered by the Supreme Court.
"I am grateful to the Indian Supreme Court for allowing me to return home for five months and for expediting the special leave petition which is scheduled for hearing on 20th of November 2012. "I look forward to returning as ordered by the Supreme Court of India and having my name exonerated," 82-year-old Chisti said in an open letter released here.
He said as he makes his way home after 20 years, he would like to thank everyone who made this day possible for him. "I deeply appreciate all your support and efforts to help me, without you I may not have lived to see this day," he said.
He also sought to apologize to all those concerned over some remarks that were made by him during an interview after his release from prison. "I wish to clarify that I did not mean to be disrespectful to the Indian judiciary, I am a law abiding man with utmost respect for judiciary. If my remarks hurt anyone please accept my deepest apology," he said.
Chisti is facing life sentence in a murder case. He was on May 10 permitted by the Supreme Court to visit Pakistan for a temporary stay.
As per the apex court`s direction, Chisti will have to deposit his passport at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan and return to India by November 1.
Chisti came to Ajmer in 1992 to visit his ailing mother. However, he allegedly got himself involved in a brawl in which one of his relatives was killed.
The apex court granted him bail on April 9 and since then he was living with his brother`s family in Dargah area in Ajmer.
PTI