The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Home Secretary to respond by October 10 to a petition by Sarabjit Singh seeking permission to receive visitors.
Sarabjit Singh is on death row for terrorism and espionage.
LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial told an additional advocate general that the matter was important. The government should act in accordance with law. Bandial then adjourned hearing till October 10.
Advocate Awais Sheikh, the counsel for Sarabjit Singh, had asked the court to direct the home secretary and the Prisons IG to allow him to meet his client.
Sheikh said he had been meeting his client on LHC orders for three years. However, he said the application he submitted to meet his client on September 1 was rejected with the comment that “rules do not allow him a meeting with his counsel.”
He said the rejection of his application was illegal and amounted to contempt of court.
Sheikh submitted that Chapter 5 of Jail Rules 92, 543, 544 allows a prisoner access to his lawyer, friends and relatives.
He said he had to discuss various aspects of the case, including new mercy petitions, during their meetings.
He said Singh’s sister had visited Pakistan in 2011 to meet her brother but was not allowed.
However, the LHC had intervened and allowed Sindh to meet his sister and his lawyer (Sheikh).
He said he had met Singh’s family in India and needed to deliver their mssages and eatables.
The counsel asked the court to instruct the home secretary and the Prisons IG to let him meet Singh.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.
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