Mumbai: India’s Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna has requested Pakistan to release Indian spy Sarabjit Singh after Islamabad in a midnight twist said it had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh who has been jailed for three decades.
“I have seen media reports about the impending release from imprisonment in Pakistan of Surejeet Singh…I welcome this decision and further renew our request to the President of Pakistan to release Sarabjit Singh who has been in custody for over two decades. He is serving a death sentence,” Krishna said.
“As you are aware that government of India has consistently urged the government of Pakistan on several occasions to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view on the case of Sarabjit Singh.”
“I also appeal to the government of Pakistan to release all Indian nationals who have completed prison term. I request the release of all Indians who are serving jail sentences in Pakistani prisons,” the Minister said.
Hours after reports emerged yesterday that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit Singh, the presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar last night clarified; “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 President (Ghulam) Ishaq (Khan) on the advice of (then Premier) Benazir Bhutto.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Sarabjit, 49, who is being held at Kot Lakhpat, had confessed to be involved in a string of blasts in Punjab province in 1990 that killed 14 Pakistani citisens and injured dozens of others.
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