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There is a new hope raised for the Indian nation Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row in Pakistan jail after Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced plans to convert the death sentences of prisoners to life imprisonment.

Gilani on the birth anniversary of former PPP leader Benazir Bhutto on Saturday told Parliament that the Interior Ministry will be asked to ‘move a summary to President Pervez Musharraf to commute the sentence of those on death row to life imprisonment’.

Former Pakistan Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney confirmed the development, saying Sarabjit will be one of the beneficiaries. Sarabjit was on death row for last 18 years in Lahore jail for alleged involvement in 1990 Lahore bomb blasts which killed 14 lives.

His execution was delayed indefinitely last month after efforts of Ansar Burney and the Indian government took up his case amid intense pressure from his family.

In a mercy petition filed with the Pakistan President, Sarabjit had said that he is only a poor farmer and victim of mistaken identity, who strayed into Pakistan from his village located on the border. His mercy petition was rejected by President Musharraf on March 3 this year. He was awarded death sentence, but on April 29 this year, his execution was postponed for 21 days and again till further notice.

Sarabjit’s daughter Poonam Kaur expressed happiness over the development, and Burney described it as a great achievement.

Burney said another Indian on death row, Kirpal Singh would also benefit from the move.

The decision will raise hopes for other similar prisoners. However, the government is yet to confirm the move. Offering glowing tributes to Bhutto, who was assassinated in an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27 last year, Gilani announced a number steps ‘for national reconciliation for which she was a torch bearer’. The prime minister announced the formation of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Trust, which will look after the children, particularly those from Federally Administered Tribal Areas, whose parents lost lives in terrorist attacks or by bombing.

Tags: Benazir Bhutto, Gilani, India, Pakistan, Sarabjit, Sarabjit Singh

Indian authorities are doing his best to save the Indian national Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan jail. After establishing contact with Pakistan’s new government making a fresh appeal to forgive Sarabjit on humanitarian grounds, it is reported that his execution on May 1 is deferred.

Sarabjit who is in Pakistan jail for 18 years sentenced to death for alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990, was earlier deferred for 30 days by President Pervez Musharraf so that the new government could review his case. Sarabjit was originally set to be hanged on April 1.

Sarabjits family members confirmed that his execution is deferred.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has expressed hope for survival of Sarabjit and his early release.

“I would appeal to the authorities in Pakistan to show clemency” to Sarabjit, the Minister said in a statement to media as the date of hanging of the Indian national drew nearer.

“Whatever the legal position may be, on humanitarian grounds alone, I would hope that mercy could be shown to this unfortunate human being,” he said.

Sarabjit’s family got 5 visas to visit Pakistan and got permission to meet Sarabjit. His family members hope that he will be released after meeting and appealing for his release to Pakistan government by them.

Tags: India, Pakistan, Sarabjit, Sarabjit Singh

After being issued a death warrant to Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan, his sister appealed to General Secretary of Congress Rahul Gandhi on Monday for taking the matter with the Government.

“I met Rahul Gandhi, who assured me that he will take up the issue with Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi,” Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur said after meeting.

Mercy petition sent to Pakistan President President Pervez Musharraf was rejected on March 3 and Sarabjit is sentenced to hang on April 1 for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990.

“Rahul treated me as his elder sister and assured every possible help to save Sarabjit’s life,” she said.

“If the Prime Minister takes Sarabjit’s issue seriously and puts pressure on Pakistan Government, then nobody can hang him,” an emotional Dalbir said.

Tags: Gandhi, India, Pakistan, Rahul, Sarabjit