“As you are aware, the government of India has consistently urged the government of Pakistan on several occasions to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case of Sarabjeet Singh,” said Krishna while talking to the media.
Along with a request for the release of Sarabjeet, the Indian minister requested the release of other Indian nationals in Pakistani prisons as well.
“I also appeal to the government of Pakistan to release all Indian nationals who have completed their prison term and request the release of all other Indians who are serving jail sentences in Pakistan prisons,” he said.
Sarabjeet was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court for his involvement in a string of deadly bombings in Punjab in the ’80s and beginning of the ’90s.
All pleas for clemency have thus far been rejected in Sarabjeet’s case – which has been taken up by not only the Indian government but by rights activists on humanitarian grounds.
After the rejection of several mercy petitions in the past, he moved a fresh plea with President Asif Ali Zardari. His fifth and final petition carried the signatures of 100,000 Indians.
Earlier, the release of an Indian national named Sarjeet Singh - who had been in Pakistani custody for over 30 years serving life imprisonment - had been misreported as the release of Sarabjeet Singh.
COMMENTS (27)
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How about this? we give you hafiz saeed, you give us modi?
This drama will soon become a cause of our national mockery. It will be taken as a living testimony that civilian government of Pakistan works under the dictation of ISI and Pak Fauj.
Dear friends it's not That india is trying to pursue the release of sarbajeet just like that... It's a proven fact that sarbajeet was forced into the confession that he had made.. There has been no concrete evidence that he was guilty and many believe that he was made scapegoat. On the other Side ajmaal kasab was guilty with enough proof and evidence to support that. Well I am sure that india must have made many mistakes in handling the critical situation with the Pakistan but we need to forget and look forward, no past can be rewritten but future can be.. Let's look into make two countries like the European unions and work on being successful states.. This was my say, love you all..
@Yuri Ofcourse you would say that. What your Home Minister says is word of God what ours say is irrelevant. It is exactly this kind of unequal attitude that gets in the way of normalizing ties. Dont forget that India held Dr Khalil without proper charge for many years before finally releasing him on bail, atleast here in pak despite all our problems, we have subjected Sarabjit Singh to due process of law, he was found guilty and sentenced accordingly. I think the Sarabjit Singh cases is a good illustration of the hypocrite attitude being displayed here. We are releasing surjeet singh someone who passed more time than sarabjit and hence more deserving than sarabjit of release. Yet as usual what we get in return is the usual display of ingratitude from the other side!
@bilal
Great idea.But I doubt if there will be any takers on either side of the border. The current lot of leaders (in both countries) are mere politician, not visionary statesman.
Should we listen to Mr. Krishna???.......a BIG NO
let's start a new story. Release everyone in which ever prison they are.. let’s start a new story with peace and love and show the world how we can defeat the world when two powers combine together.
indians never satisfied with what they get.
@all saying that poor innocent farmer a terrorist who suffered 20+ years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBGehdtVxwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbRpFE7s92k
Any pakistani willing to comment ??
@Anon..:
Equating Sarabjeet Singh with Kasab and Bal Thackeray with Hafiz Saeed, Pakistanis genuinely seem to lack a sense of scale.
We will ask Kasab in return !
Krishna ji please take a leaf out of american's book and dont request, just make an offer. remember raymond davis?
zardari seems to be a reasonable person
If someone is guilty, he should be hanged, but if not, he should be released on humanitarian ground...some people living in jaisalmer area sometimes do not know the exact border line and may step on other's land, and are caught up and put into jails..which is ridiculous, such people can be identified even by their face and way they plead. they should atleast be not pushed into jails. If one side does this..other side does in retaliation..which is bad...for all being human..try to understand..
kasab can not be compared with common man...
As a goodwill measure, its MY opinion that he should be released. Dr Chisty was released by India to facilitate the ongoing peace process and Pakistan should be doing the same.
No.. Never...
Release Digvijay Singh first from Indian side then only we will release Sarabjeet Singh (what an alcohlic name, Sarab).
then plz release Ajmal.
Would you release Ajmal Kasab and similar terrorists? No right? So neither should we release Sarabjit Singh, keep your terrorists and we'll keep ours.
Oh we will release him all right. in a casket
*if the person is guilty of taking innocent lives,he deserves to be hanged. Lives are lives,be they Pakistani or Indian. Why has he been allowed to live so long if he was guilty?
Ridiculous demand from Indian. Just imagine Pakistan requesting release of Ajmal Kasaab, would India comply? I think it is absurd to ask for a release of a proven terrorist.
Krishna,
Sarabjeet was convicted without an iota of concrete evidence and solely based on forced confessions.
It was done with an insidious plan to achieve three things.
1) malign India
2) protect the rogue strategic assets who were actually responsible for the bombings.
3) find a scapegoat who would be universally hated within Pakistan and which would elevate the secret services' images.
Now, you expect them to release him? Be real.
please don't compare a terrorist to a scholar
Mr. Krishna, would you appreciate if Pak govt asked you to free up Ajmal Qasab even though there still is the difference between the two as Sarbajeet is the one who confessed to be state sponsored terrorist whereas Ajmal acted on his own without any involvement of pak govt..... if you actually want terrorism to vanish you should support Pak govt for his execution
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.