A General prayer for peace

The General8217;s uniform was missing, but the signature salute-cum-salaam was in place. And the message: Peace, prosperity and development...

The General8217;s uniform was missing, but the signature salute-cum-salaam was in place. And the message: Peace, prosperity and development.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf8217;s message today, soon after offering prayers at Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti8217;s dargah, set the tone for his three-day visit to India. Waving at the scrambling scribes after greeting them in his unique style, Musharraf conveyed his message in three words: Peace, prosperity and development.

So enthusiastic and happy was the President during his 15 minutes at the dargah, that he walked up to the media twice to convey his message, even after impatient journalists almost drowned him in their frenzy to get a byte.

Unable to speak in the melee, the President walked away but then turned and waved, as if to silence the crowd. Then with a smile, he said: 8216;8216;I have come here with the message of peace. I have prayed for the prosperity of the people and development of the two countries.8217;8217;

Musharraf, who turned out in white salwar kameez, said he was happy to have finally visited the dargah. 8216;8216;I have sought the Khwaja8217;s blessings for peace between the two countries,8217;8217; he said.

He arrived at the dargah with his wife Begum Sehba and other Pakistani delegates around 4 pm and spent nearly 10 minutes at the Sufi saint8217;s tomb. After placing a 42-metre-long red velvet chaddar on the tomb, the General told the Khadims: 8216;8216;Dua karo, aman ki dua karo pray for peace.8217;8217;

In the visitor8217;s book, Musharraf wrote he was honoured to have prayed on behalf of the entire delegation at the shrine of the 8216;8216;most revered saint8217;8217;. 8216;8216;Our prayers for peace, harmony and amity between Pakistan and India and prosperity of both the countries be answered,8217;8217; he wrote. And going by the offerings he made at the dargah, Musharraf appears to be in a generous mood. 8216;8216;He presented a carpet to the Khadim who helped him perform ziyarat. He has also promised Rs 10 lakh for the dargah,8217;8217; an Anjuman official said.

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Talking to the Anjuman, whose members tied a pink dastar turban on his head, Musharraf advocated easy availability of visas for Pakistani zayarins to the dargah.

Earlier in the day, the General landed at the Jaipur airport in a PIA aircraft. The arrival stirred a mild controversy as the Indian Tricolour on it was inverted. Oblivious, Musharraf who was scheduled to take a 15-minute break at the airport, quickly got into the waiting chopper and left.