ISLAMABAD: After spending 20 years in Indian jails, ailing Pakistani microbiologist Dr Mohammad Khalil Chishti returned to Pakistan on Tuesday after the Indian Supreme court allowed him to visit the home country on humanitarian grounds, DawnNews reported.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik received Chishti at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto airport on his return.

On the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, a presidential plane was sent to New Delhi to bring home the ailing scientist.

Speaking to media representatives, Chishti said that he had lost hope regarding his return to his home country.

Moreover, he expressed gratitude to the President Zardari for his efforts to bring him back to Pakistan.

The interior minister said that the real credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari for his efforts  for the release of Dr Muhammad Khalil Chishti from an Indian jail.

Talking to media representatives, Malik said there is no doubt that many people including Altaf Hussain, Ansar Burney, some NGOs, Indian and Pakistani media also played an active role to set free the ailing Pakistani microbiologist Dr Chishti.

However, he said, “the final stroke was played by President Asif Ali Zardari in this regard during his recent visit to India.”

He also appreciated Indian government and Indian Supreme Court in this regard.

Pakistan’s first virologist, Dr Chishti was allowed to return back home after submission of half a million rupees as security on the directions of the Indian Supreme Court.  He had gone to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother where he was implicated in a murder case.

After an 18-year-long trial, the octogenarian professor was awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Ajmer jail in January last year.

President Asif Ali Zardari had written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month, seeking Chisti’s release and repatriation to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.