The Hindu : National : Patil and I traversed similar paths: Gillani

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Patil and I traversed similar paths: Gillani

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani says he has a special affinity for Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. For, their careers have traversed similar paths, Mr. Gillani told Lok Sabha member from Baramulla, Abdul Rashid Shaheen of the National Conference, during a recent meeting between them here.

“Gillani saab said there are many similarities between him and Shivraj Patil in their political careers and he told me to give him his best wishes,” Mr. Shaheen told The Hindu.

In 1988, when Mr. Gillani became Tourism Minister in the first Benazir government, Mr. Patil was Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism in the Rajiv Gandhi government.

In 1993, when Mr. Gillani was elected Speaker of the National Assembly during Benazir’s second time in power, Mr. Patil was Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The Pakistan Prime Minister also insists that like himself, the Indian Home Minister did a stint in prison, Mr. Shaheen said, looking somewhat puzzled, as there is no record of Mr. Patil doing a time in jail.

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