Pakistan must protect Indian prisoners: Amnesty International

Amnesty International's Polly Truscott urges Pakistan to launch an official investigation into Sarabjit Singh's death.

Rights group Amnesty International on Thursday called on Pakistani authorities to ensure the safety of Indian prisoners in the country’s jails, following the death of Indian spy Sarabjit Singh in Lahore.

"Pakistani prison authorities have seemingly failed in their duty to protect Sarabjit Singh, despite him apparently receiving death threats," said Deputy Asia Pacific Director Polly Truscott in a statement.

Singh, who was sentenced 16 years ago over deadly bombings, died in the early hours of Thursday from injuries suffered in last week’s attack, according to a senior doctor at Jinnah hospital in Lahore.

Truscott further urged the Pakistani government to launch an official probe into Singh’s death.

“The government must now carry out an impartial, public investigation into this horrific attack and ensure that those responsible are promptly prosecuted in fair trials – including prison staff if the evidence shows their negligence may have helped facilitate the attack.”

Pakistan on Thursday arrested and charged two prisoners with Singh’s murder, officials said.

The motive was unclear, but Pakistani police say an initial investigation pointed to an exchange of “hot words” with Singh.

Singh’s body was taken to India in a Special Air India aircraft that landed in Amritsar, Press Trust of India reported.

“The criminals responsible for the barbaric and murderous attack on Sarabjit Singh must be brought to justice,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on his official Twitter page.