Family members of the two clerics from the Nizamuddin dargah here, who went missing in Pakistan, have blamed the neighbouring country for failing to ensure adequate security for its visitors.
Indian nationals Syed Asif Ali Nizami (80) and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami had gone to Pakistan on March 8.
There has no been information about them since the last two days.
Mr. Asif Ali Nizami is the head priest of the dargah.
Sajid Nizami, the son of Mr. Asif Ali Nizami, said that since his father and cousin had gone missing from the Lahore and Karachi airports, which enjoy heavy security cover, it was Pakistan’s responsibility to keep them secure.
No word from Pakistan
However, there was no word from the Pakistani authorities on the issue till late on Friday evening.
“We fear for their safety. But, we are hopeful that the External Affairs Ministry will raise the issue with their counterparts in Pakistan and provide some information at the earliest,” said Sajid.
He added that while his father had gone to Pakistan after a gap of 30 years, his cousin visited the country often.
According to Sajid, the latest trip was undertaken for a personal reason.
Detained at airport
The duo had first gone to Karachi, which is where Mr. Asif Nizami’s elder sister lives. Later, they had visited Data Darbar and other Sufi shrines in and around Lahore.
“My aunt and her family there are as clueless as us. I last spoke to my father on March 12 when he said that he was on his way to Lahore from Karachi. My last conversation with my cousin was on March 15 when he told me that he had been stopped by the airport authorities. My father, however, was allowed to fly to Karachi. Later, both of them went incommunicado,” Sajid added.
He also said that both the missing members used WhatsApp, an instant messaging service, and had shared pictures taken during their trip.
However, the app’s ‘last seen’ feature says that they were last online around 4.30 p.m. on March 15.
Prayer held
The family is also worried about the fact that the missing duo did not have enough money in case they were stranded somewhere, said Sajid.
When asked about the possibility of the duo being detained and media reports about the Pakistani intelligence quizzing them, Sajid said that whichever agency was involved came under the Pakistani government, which “should step in”.
A special prayer for their safe return was held at the dargah in the Capital on Friday afternoon.
