Ajmer shrine finally receives Asif Ali Zardari's $1 mn donation

Ajmer: Four months after visiting Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari announced $1 million donation for Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti's shrine here, the shrine authorities finally received the money from a Pakistan delegation on Friday evening, shrine officials said.

The money was paid by a delegation of Pakistan High Commission at a government circuit house in the town, some 150 km from Jaipur, they added.

Zardari had offered prayers at the revered shrine in Ajmer April 8 and announced the donation.

Zardari had offered prayers at the revered shrine in Ajmer April 8 and announced the donation.

He was accompanied by his son Bilawal, who had earlier visited the shrine in 2003. The shrine's administrators had described the donation as one of the biggest in recent years.

A six member-team of Pakistan High Commission had arrived at Ajmer Friday morning, a member of the shrine's Anjuman committee, which comprises khadims (servitors) of the dargah, told IANS.

"A closed door meeting between members of the Pakistan delegation and Anjuman committee was held for three hours. There was some dispute among the shrine authorities about distribution of the money among various committees involved in shrine's regular affairs," a source said.

However the issue was resolved and the money was handed over to the shrine authorities in the evening.

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