Counsel seeks withdrawal of Sarabjit’s petition

Sarabjit Singh is an Indian citizen death on death row.

LAHORE:


The counsel for Sarabjit Singh, an Indian death on death row, has filed an application before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, seeking withdrawal of a pending petition for reopening his case, The Express Tribune has learnt.


Advocate Awais Sheikh says he has filed the petition in consultation with Singh and his sister Dalbir Kaur.

Sheikh told The Express Tribune: “In consultation with Sarabjit Singh and on the advice of his sister, I have filed the application in the SC for the withdrawal of the petition filed on January 2, 2011 for re-opening of his case under Order XXXIII and 6 of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Rules 1980.”

He said he would appear before the SC registrar on Wednesday (today) and request the withdrawal of the petition.


Sheikh has filed the petition after receiving a letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, from Dalbir Kaur. The letter says: “On the advice of Sarabjit Singh, my brother, a condemned prisoner in a Pakistani jail, you have filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on his behalf for reopening his case. I have consulted my family who desire that the petition be withdrawn. I therefore advise you to withdraw the petition. Your constant struggle for the release of my brother is highly appreciated.”

Sheikh said the president could pardon a convict at any stage. However, he also said he was clearing the way for Sarabjit’s pardon by withdrawing the petition.

According to the prosecution, Sarabjit Singh had illegally crossed into Pakistan from Kasur on August 29, 1990.

He was arrested on charges of conducting four bomb blasts in Faisalabad, Multan and Lahore. He is named Manjeet Singh in the FIR. He was sentenced to death.

Sheikh claimed it was case of mistaken identity.

He said the FIR had been registered against Manjeet Singh.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2012.
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