Former acting Pakistani president visits Jalandhar ancestral house

, Oct 28: For

's two-time former acting president Wasim Sajjad, Monday was a nostalgic day as he came to see his ancestral house in Jalandhar.

Though Sajjad could not go inside the house in Suraj Ganj locality as it was locked and its owners live in Mumbai, he had a look at the building from the roofs of the adjoining houses. Many area residents and other locals greeted Sajjad during the visit and refreshed him with memories of the pre-partition era.

He was visiting the house after 66 years and spent around 45 minutes in the locality. The house belonged to his maternal grandfather.

Sajjad, who was remained acting president of Pakistan in 1993 and 1996-97 in his capacity as chairman of the Senate, seemed to be overwhelmed on reaching here.

Born here in 1941, his family left the place before partition in August 1947. His father, Sajjad Ahmed Jan, who used to practice here as a lawyer, went on to become judge in Pakistan's Supreme Court and the Chief Election Commissioner there.

Sajjad, while interacting with people, hoped that relations between India and Pakistan would improve and the visa regime would be relaxed to enable people to visit each other's country.

Jalandhar's Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljeet Singh Bhatia presented him a framed copy of his original birth certificate written in Urdu.

Sajjad was in touch with Jalandhar-based lawyer Navtej Singh Toor for the visit to his ancestral house.

Jalandhar is 160 km from Chandigarh.

IANS