The Hindu : Front Page : India appeals for clemency

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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India appeals for clemency

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday appealed to Pakistan for clemency to Sarabjit Singh on humanitarian grounds. He is to be hanged on April 1 as his mercy petition was reportedly turned down by President Pervez Musharraf.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken up the matter at the highest level. The government is making all possible efforts to get a reprieve for him, Dr. Singh informed Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal in response to his letter.

In a similar statement made in both Houses of Parliament, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India appealed to the Government to Pakistan to treat Sarabjit Singh’s case on humanitarian grounds. He said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad sought details from the Pakistan Government, pointing out that India had received no formal intimation.

According to press reports, the black warrant has been issued and the sentence will be carried out on April 1, he said.

Mr. Mukherjee said that since the Supreme Court judgment on August 18, 2005 upholding Sarabjit Singh’s death sentence on the charge of causing explosions at various places in Pakistan, India had continuously urged Pakistan to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view. Further, he said the two Governments have put in place certain institutional arrangements, including a new Agreement on Consular Access and a joint Judicial Committee, to facilitate the resolution of consular issues.

A delegation of family members of missing Indian defence personnel visited Pakistan last year. These initiatives might lead to an improvement of the situation for our prisoners, he said.

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Clemency for Sarabjit

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