Indian Foreign Minister demands release of Sarabjit Singh
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 12:40:03 by Faisal Farooq
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday demanded release of Sarabjit Singh, saying Pakistan should sympathetically consider his case.
Welcoming the release of Surjit Singh, he said that all such Indian prisoners who have completed their sentences should be released freed by Islamabad.
Earlier, the government in an unusual way late on Tuesday took a u-turn on release of India prisoner Sarabjit Singh, convicted of terrorism charges, clarifying that release orders were singed for Surjit Singh and not for Sarabjit Singh.
Indian and Pakistani media reported on Tuesday evening that President Asif Ali Zardari has granted pardon to Sarabjit Singh. Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar late Tuesday clarified that it was Surjit Singh not Sarabjit Singh.
He observed, “I think there is some confusion. First, it is not a case of pardon. More importantly, it is not Sarabjit. It is Surjeet Singh, son of Sucha Singh. His death sentence was commuted in 1989 by then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan on the advice of then premier Benazir Bhutto”.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek dispatched orders to the Interior Ministry saying that Surjit Singh had completed his life-term in prison and ought to be released and sent back to India. According to the circular, it will be legal confinement if we keep him in jail any longer.
The spokesperson further said that any reference to President Asif Ali Zardari in the entire matter was out of context.
Surjeet Singh, currently being locked in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, has been in Pakistani captivity for over 30 years.
He was arrested near the border with India on charges of spying during the era of military ruler Zia-ul-Haq.
Earlier on Tuesday, the media claimed that President Zardari had converted Sarabjit Singh’s death sentence to life imprisonment and directed authorities to release him if he had completed his prison term.
Following the news even the Indian media jumped to the conclusions and started beaming reports welcoming the move by Pakistan without confirming it through diplomatic channels.
Tags: Benazir Bhutto, Farhatullah Babar, India, Islamabad, Law Minister Farooq H Naek, New Delhi, Pakistan, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Sarbajit Singh, SM Krishna, Sucha Singh, Surjit SinghShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=27209
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on Jun 27 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan.
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Somebody really needs to think of the family of this man and see their images on TV. After being in sorrow for 22 years, for the first time there was smile on their faces only to be sad again in just 8 hours. Can someone in Pakistan be human enough to release this innocent man and let him be with his family once again?
yES IT IS EXELENT STEP TOWARDS BOTH NATIONS
I would like to remind Mr Siraj Mohammed that this man was convicted for carrying out bomb blasts in pakistan and killing lots of people and there is a recorded statement of acceptance by him which was running on news channel as well. Have you seen the sorrow on the faces of families he destroyed ? He was given 5 death sentences which were then converted to life imprisonment.
That guy is a Bomber and a killer of more than 20 Pakistanis and now Indians are saying that Release an Indian who killed innocent Pakistanis???. India is not an Israel and Pakistan is not a Palestine that whatever India thinks will be implemented here. Dr Khalil was not a Spy and a Bomber and a killer of scores of people like Singh. In my view Singh should be hanged till death. Like Ajmal Kasab needs death Penalty in India similarly Sarbjeet Singh should be Prosecuted in Pakistan.
Killing Pakistani people is not a crime for the world. Pakistan’s are not humans? Today war of America has cost 35000 deaths to Pakistan and still Pakistan is blamed for everything. Why India is not so generous to release few of Pakistanis?
You do the crime, then serve the time. Accused of multiple bomb blasts that killed innocent civilians, this guy should be thankful that his conviction was reduced from the death penalty. WIll india consider releasing ajmal kasab in a similar way? I guess NOT.