Indian activists pose with pictures of late Sarabjit Singh as they pay tribute to him in Kolkata on May 2, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
"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.
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sarabjeet was not a spy..your corrupt police and fake judicial system made him a spy..he was a poor farmer who wrongly cross the border ...after 23 years of severe punishment in your jail..he received so much of pain not himself but his family too.its shows your country's failure in each departments..corrupt police.fake judicial system, nonsense politics and even not protecting foreign players from terrorist groups in your country.
@Polpot miyan Absolutely I will not be thankful under similar conditions. Not because what you think. I would be rather ashamed on first place if someone in my family commits this kinda crime. Humanity is more sacred than anything else including nationalism. He was spying but when on the earth this profession allowed him to blow up 14 innocent people?
Wow so it was fine for amnesty international when the indian authorities refused to hand over the body of afzal guru after wrongly killing him. GREAT. At least we gave the body
@Tired of this!: "Sarbajeet’s family should be thankful to us that our weakness made their family member a hero from a murderer." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sarbajeet’s family is thankful to you that you made their family member return home in a coffin. I am sure you would also be thankful under similar conditions.
@Liaqat Ali: this is a failure of the jail authorities" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ this is a failure of the Pakistani Government. Pls give credit where it is due.
Convicted killer not on death penalty? Justice denied in the first place by not executing him?
Regardless of all other issues in this case and admittedly there are many; this is a failure of the jail authorities and they need to be appropriately and publicly punished so the rights of all prisoners can be safeguarded.
Pakistan should also thank India for giving it the opportunity to host their spies. We are eternally grateful.