ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday requested Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release Dr Khalil Chishti and repatriate him to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

Presidential Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the president has made this request in a personal letter addressed to the Indian premier.

The letter was sent to Pakistan's High Commissioner in India for onward delivery to the prime minister, he said.

Babar said that the president had taken up this matter during his meeting with Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last Sunday while on way to Ajmer Sharif.

The president's letter also said that this gesture would add momentum to the good will generated after resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries.