Zardari likely to visit Ajmer Sharif on April 8

Islamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to visit Ajmer on 8 April to pay obeisance at the famous Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. A request for a “private visit” by the Pakistani President has been forwarded to the Indian side though a final date for the trip is yet to be set, sources in the Pakistan government said. However, sources in Delhi said the visit is likely to take place on 8 April. [caption id=“attachment_262575” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Zardari’s planned visit to the famous 13th century shrine has been kept under wraps as it is intended to be a “purely private” matter. Reuters”]  [/caption] The Pakistani sources said the government has kept Zardari’s planned visit to the famous 13th century shrine in Ajmer in Rajasthan under wraps as it is intended to be a “purely private” matter. “The visit is supposed to be devoid of political or diplomatic content but since it involves the President, the possibility of some meetings with Indian leaders cannot be ruled out,” said a source familiar with the plans for the visit. When Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar was reached for comment, he said he was “really not aware” of such  a visit. However, a presidential aide, who spoke on condition that he would not be named, said Zardari’s visit to Ajmer had been in the pipeline for almost a year. “This visit has been planned since last year as the President wants to make a trip to the dargah in Ajmer,” the aide said. PTI