Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
I already gave you a possible reason for that. That was further corraborated by the fact that the Indian govt hadn't been taking care of his family while he was in Pak jail.
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
a possible reason ? oh I see. You're assuming now LOL
but why are you staying clear of his admission of guilt. No comments there?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
Ok, now I am getting the feeling you don't understand, because I already gave you the reason. Check #15 para 2
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
the spy, kashmir singh, was released and although he wants to sound tough something tells me he wont be doing it again!
he was a spy, intelligence gatherer
sarabjit on the other hand is a convicted terrorist. to let him free in the current climate is unthinkable.
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
^ obviously it is thinkable .... a whole lot of thinking gong on!
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
all for a delay
you know, drums n all
when you catch someone planting explosives, killing people, creating anarchy theres only one way
if raw continues this tactic, you can expect retribution this time of an offensive nature
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
^ Burney's whole point is that the evidnece isn't conclusive!
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
no, burnys is a human rights/anti capital punishment guy. nice work but consideration should be made for the actual crimes committed. 'sarabjit' is guilty of terrorism beyond doubt
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
^ really?
Burney says case against Sarabjit weak
**NEW DELHI April 22: Former Pakistan Human Rights Minister and activists Ansar Burney has said that Sarabjit Singh's case is very weak and suspicious.**
In an interview to a television news channel, Burney said that law has not taken in the Sarabjit case. According to Burney, Sarabjit can’t be executed as three review petitions are still before the apex court to consider.
Burney said that one cannot punish a man just because he is an Indian and a non-Muslim.
Meanwhile, India is waiting to see whether Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will agree to pardon Sarabjit’s life. The government has at least twice pleaded for clemency for Sarabjit, who is on a death row in Pakistani prison, on charges of being involved in serial bomb blasts in that country killing at least 14.
In less than two weeks, the man accused by Pakistan of being a terrorist, but seen by India as being innocent is meant to be hanged. So far, Indian diplomats have been feverishly working to save his life.
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
^ You never answered my question.
Sure you're all about giving Sarabjit Singh the benefit of the doubt, but what about Afzal Guru?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
India wants to release 150 Pakistani prisoners’
** Former caretaker minister says he will locate prisoners, ascertain credentials, then approach FO and Pakistani High Commission in India to process detainees’ deportation*
NEW DELHI: India has handed over a list of 150 Pakistani prisoners to be released as soon as possible, according to former caretaker minister for human rights Ansar Burney.
Speaking at the Press Club of India, Burney said he discussed the issue of Indian and Pakistani prisoners languishing in each other’s jails during his interaction with Indian dignitaries, including Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon. “It is a humanitarian issue and should be seen only in that perspective,” he said, adding that the families of these prisoners were suffering terribly on both sides of the border.
Process: Burney said he would use different channels in Pakistan, including the media, to locate the relatives of the prisoners on the list. After establishing their credentials, he said he would approach the Foreign Office and the High Commission in India to process travel documents for their deportation to Pakistan.
“I have started this mission to serve humanity and I will continue with it despite hurdles,” he said, referring to difficulties he faced in Pakistan bother over the release of convicted spy Kashmir Singh, and after the dead body of a Pakistani prisoner, Khalid Mehmood, was handed over to Pakistan by India during the same period.
When asked about the possible release of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row in Pakistan in connection with involvement in bombings, Burney said Singh’s relatives had not been able to provide sufficient evidence to support their claim that his arrest was a case of mistaken identity. **However, he said that because the prisoner had already spent eighteen years in jail, he would try to get Singh’s death sentence commuted into life imprisonment. **
He added, though, that he had no sympathies for anyone involved in terrorist activities and the killing of innocent people. Asked about the presence of Indian prisoners of war in Pakistan, Burney said he had not found any veterans from the 1965 or 1971 wars in Pakistani jails.
The former caretaker minister spoke of the suffering of fishermen from both countries who innocently strayed into the other’s territorial waters, saying that aside from imprisonment they faced crushing financial losses following the confiscation of their boats. Pakistan and India should evolve an effective and fair policy to deal with the issue since a “wall cannot be built” in the ocean, he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has not received any response from India regarding a list of more than 500 Pakistani prisoners handed over to New Delhi. It has sought details on the status of prisoners in Indian jails. The investigation report on the death of Pakistani prisoner Mehmood is also still awaited, sources said. app
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C13%5Cstory_13-4-2008_pg7_16
Sarabjit would be hanged on May 1 as the Pakistani government has issued Sarabjit’s execution warrant.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=108748
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
Is thats the reason after he blasted Indian govt for not taking care of his family while he was incarcerated in Pakistan…Indian govt agree to give him and his wife RS 5000 per month pension?
http://nation.com.pk/daily/Apr-2008/25/index11.php
Miliband lobbied for Sarabjit Singh during Pak visit
Asif Mehmood
LONDON - UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband in his recent meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi last week expressed his concern over the death sentence of the Indian terrorist Sarabjit Singh and urged Pakistani authorities to halt the planned execution of Sarabjit Singh on May 1, The Nation has learnt.
While pressing the Pakistani authorities Miliband urged Pak govt to go further and join other civilised countries around the world in abolishing the death penalty. He welcomed the restoration of elections and also congratulated Pakistan on its return to democracy and advocates its re-entry into the Commonwealth.
The Indian lobby in UK was very much active to commute the death sentence of Sarabjit Singh. British Member of Parliament Virendra Sharma, John McDonell and Jeremy Corbyn are on the forefront.
Amnesty International UK and the Parliamentary All Party Panjabis in London held a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in central London to voice their concerns over the continuing use of death penalty in Pakistan.
The vigil was attended by MPs, trade unions, students and many community and human rights organisations. The vigil was held just a week before the planned execution of a man who has been held on death row in Kot Lakhpath Jail near Lahore for 18 years. There is concern that it could be a case of mistaken identity.
The Pakistani authorities believe the man to be Manjit Singh, however, his family and the Indian authorities believe the prisoner is actually a man called Sarabjit Singh, a Punjabi farmer from Bihkiwind, who accidentally strayed across the Line of Control into Pakistani territory. He was convicted and sentenced in 1991 for involvement with bomb attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad that killed 14 people in 1990.
Amnesty International UK’s Director, Kate Allen, said: ‘The death penalty is abhorrent in all circumstances - and in this case there is the added complication that they may have the wrong man. There is no reprieve from the grave. We are calling on the Pakistani authorities to commute the death sentence in this case under Article 45 of the Constitution - and to take steps to implement an immediate moratorium on all executions.
There are currently an astonishing 7,200 people on death row in Pakistan’.
‘Globally, there is a real momentum towards the abolition of the death penalty. A total of 133 states have abolished it in law or in practice - and only 25 countries carried out executions in 2006. Sadly Pakistan was one of those 25’.
John McDonnell MP, a member of the All Party Panjabis in Britain Group, said: ‘We are appealing to the Pakistani authorities not only to step back from the brink on this case which puts Singh’s life at risk but also to take a major progressive step forward and join all those other countries across the world in abolishing the death penalty’.
It is worth mentioned here that when this scribe contacted the media section of Pakistan High Commission where they were unaware about such protest held outside the mission.
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
I already gave you a possible reason for that. That was further corraborated by the fact that the Indian govt hadn't been taking care of his family while he was in Pak jail.
May be you guys should press Indian govt to release all Pakistani spies, may be they are cases of "mistaken identity" too. Dude, this guy Ansar is working to release people who are "convicted" by court of law. If he was challenging their conviction by providing proofs that these were indeed "mistaken identity" then that would've made some sense but instead he is working for mercy of a "criminal/spy". There is a difference, do you see?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
ehtesab
your own minister has openly said the case against Sarabjit is weak and looks suspicious.
do you go hang a guy based on a weak and suspicious case?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
ehtesab
your own minister has openly said the case against Sarabjit is weak and looks suspicious.
do you go hang a guy based on a weak and suspicious case?
Has he been hanged yet Mr. Lets arrest and torture to death a Pakistani cricket fan?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
Pak: Burney files mercy plea for Sarabjit
April 21, 2008 15:14 IST
Last Updated: April 21, 2008 18:21 IST
Making a last ditch effort to save Sarabjit Singh, former Pakistani human rights minister Ansar Burney on Monday petitioned President Pervez Musharraf seeking clemency for the death row prisoner, saying his 'biggest crime may have been his Indian nationality'.
Burney in the mercy petition pleaded that Sarabjit's death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment or he be released since the case against him was 'weak' and there was 'little to justify the death sentence' awarded to him by a Pakistani court in 1991.
Sarabjit was given capital punishment for his alleged involvement in bomb attacks in 1990.
Burney, who is a member of the Advisory Committee of the UN Human Rights Council, said that 'with so many facts in favour of Sarabjit and so little to justify the death sentence awarded to him, it seemed Sarabjit's biggest crime may have been his Indian nationality as no unbiased court would ever sentence a man to death in such a weak case'.
Sarabjit's execution was deferred for 30 days by Musharraf last month so that Pakistan's new government could review his case following appeals for clemency from the Indian government. He was originally set to be hanged on April 1.
Burney said he had made 'several legal arguments in favour of Sarabjit' and these 'meant that Sarabjit could not legally be hanged'.
He said he had informed Musharraff that a key witness in the case, a man named Shaukat Salim, had said in a TV interview that he had been forced by police to testify against the Indian national.
*Salim had said he was forced to testify even though he 'had never seen Sarabjit in his life, let alone see him commit an act of terrorism', Burney said. *
Other witnesses in the trial too made inconsistent statements. One witness accused Sarabjit in initial police interrogations but later retracted his statement in court, saying that he had never seen Sarabjit in his life.
Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is Manjit Singh, was sentenced to death for alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990. His family denies he is a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists that he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.
Burney also pointed out that none of the four FIRs registered in connection with the bomb attacks mentioned Sarabjit's name or his description. When he was arrested on the night of August 30, 1990 at the border near Kasur city, he was actually apprehended for 'illegally crossing' the frontier.
"After eight days, the police implicated him in the terrorist bombings. He had not been arrested red-handed," Burney said.
Referring to other loopholes in the case against Sarabjit, he said: "One magistrate recorded statements of the witnesses in all four cases -- one in Faislabad and three in Lahore -- even though the cases were lodged in four different police stations and two different districts.
"Four different magistrates should have recorded the statements. Not one of the statements recorded in front of this magistrate were taken under oath."
Burney also said Sarabjit was not produced in an identity parade in front of a magistrate and was instead 'brought in front of witnesses without a magistrate being present'. He added: "The police informed the witnesses that Sarabjit was the culprit, just as Shaukat Salim, a key witness in the case, had said."
The rights activist pointed out that three of the four review petitions filed in regard to Sarabjit's case were still pending in the Supreme Court and 'he could not be hanged until he had the chance to defend himself in those three cases as well'.
Burney said, "Sarabjit's apparent admission of guilt, which was recorded by Pakistani authorities and shown on TV, was dismissed on the grounds that a confession while inconfinement held no evidentiary value in the eyes of the law, as it is obvious that no sane person will make such a confession unless he was pressurised or forced to do so."
*He added, "There was no sufficient or proper evidence to justify the death sentence to Sarabjit, especially after the retraction of statements by witnesses." *
The death sentence awarded to Sarabjit is against 'the settled principles of law' and it is 'hard to believe that the Supreme Court itself did not dismiss Sarabjit's death sentence after all these fact were produced before it', Burney said.
Under these circumstances, 'there is a settled principle of law that the benefit of the doubt should always been given to the accused, but contrary to it, Sarabjit was still sentenced to death with so much doubt, irregularities and illegalities in his trial," he contended.
Calling on Musharraf to halt Sarabjit's hanging and to review his case, Burney pointed out that the Indian national had already spent 18 years on death row and 'it was against morality to hang a person after already keeping him behind bars for so many years for the same case'.
Burney also said he would soon be sending another petition to the President to halt 'all hangings in the country'.
PTI
Heard Burney talking on radio, he made a few other points: that the supreme court of pakistan only rejected sarabjit singhs plea because the jail authorites sent it to the court very late and that when he crossed the border the only things the police found on him were some clothes he was taking for his wife. And he said that he has forwarded the appeal to Musharraf to review Sarabjits case.
May be he was innocent?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
I completely agree with Ansar Burney - you cannot hang Sarabjit Singh unless he is proven guilty! And that its better to let him go and get the release of 200 Pakistani prisoners, instead of hanging him.
What do you guys think?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
Has he been hanged yet Mr. Lets arrest and torture to death a Pakistani cricket fan?
you mean the poor guy from Pakistan who didn't have money for the next meal but found enough to travel abroad to watch a cricket match and who said he was walking to a consulate office in a city a few hundred miles away?
**I hope everybody understands this.
YOUR OWN MINISTER SAID THE CASE AGAINST SARABJIT IS WEAK AND SUSPICIOUS. **
Why would you guys become bloodthirsty then?
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
you mean the poor guy from Pakistan who didn't have money for the next meal but found enough to travel abroad to watch a cricket match and who said he was walking to a consulate office in a city a few hundred miles away?
**I hope everybody understands this.
YOUR OWN MINISTER SAID THE CASE AGAINST SARABJIT IS WEAK AND SUSPICIOUS. **
Why would you guys become bloodthirsty then?
StirCrasy, call Gujrat a genocide and call what's going on in Kashmir mass murder by the Indian Army, and then we'll decide whose bloodthirsty.
Re: Ansar Burney files mercy petition for Sarabjit
ehtesab
your own minister has openly said the case against Sarabjit is weak and looks suspicious.
do you go hang a guy based on a weak and suspicious case?
Firstly he was "caretaker minister", secondly he also said that the family of Singh failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove case of mistaken identity. If Burney really wants to do anything then it should be challenge the verdict but he is actually filing for his "mercy".