KARACHI, May 16: Pakistani scientist Dr Khalil Chishti came out of the arrival lounge of Karachi airport on Wednesday night looking happy and perplexed at the same time.

The way television cameras and photographers hounded him clearly made him uncomfortable. For sure, after a resounding welcome that he received at Islamabad, he was expecting another warm reception in his hometown. Warm it was, but with humidity that got aggravated because of the prying cameramen.

Security officials kept shoving media persons back and slowly pushing the frail-looking octogenarian Dr Chishti’s wheelchair till it reached the car that had been waiting for him to, apparently, take him to the Governor’s House.

The scientist was feeling so weak that it took him quite a while to get into the vehicle.

Dr Chishti’s plane touched down Karachi airport at around 9pm. Some workers of political parties, friends and family members of the scientist, who had been detained in Ajmer (India) for 20 years for his alleged involvement in a murder, had come to greet him at the airport.

Sadly none of those who had arrived to see Dr Chishti could get close to him, since as soon as he came out of the airport a tussle between security officials and the media began. Despite all the chaos and disorder, a young man showered him with rose petals from over the scuffling officials and media persons.

His family members clapped with joy once they sensed he was there. Unfortunately, Dr Chishti was in no position to address journalists. It was hot and humid. He was accompanied by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Babar Ghauri and Nasreen Jalil, the Pakistan People’s Party’s Shazia Marri and some other political figures.

Talking to Dawn, a cousin of Dr Chishti, Shahabuddin said: “I’m feeling very happy that he has arrived. The 20 years that we spent without him were torturous. He was there in India and we were here in Pakistan. Twenty years is no small period.”

One of Dr Chishti’s five daughters, Farah Hadi, was jubilant. However, she was also aware of the time when her father was not around. “Naturally all of us are feeling extremely happy. As for the two decades that we’ve been without him, I think it would be better if we forgot about it.”Apart from senior members of Dr Chishti’s family, quite a few young girls and boys were also there to catch a glimpse of the scientist.

Addressing the media after Dr Chishti left the airport, Information Minister Shazia Marri said: “I think Dr Chishti has shown tremendous courage and resolve. This step of releasing him will go a long way in improving and consolidating the ties between India and Pakistan. The people of both countries want to have cordial relations with each other.”

Dr Chishti reached Karachi from Islamabad where he was flown in from India following his release after a Supreme Court of India order in April.