ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has approved the release of Indian prisoner Sarabjeet Singh, convicted of espionage charges, who been languishing in a local jail despite completion of his prison term.
Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek has signed the summary for Singh’s release and handed over his release orders to the Interior Ministry.
Singh was imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat jail.
Speaking to DawnNews, the law minister said Sarabjeet Singh’s death sentence had been converted to life imprisonment by the President and that the Indian prisoner had completed his sentence.
Singh’s release orders come after last month’s orders by the Indian Supreme Court allowing ailing Pakistani microbiologist Mohammad Khalil Chishti to travel to his home country on humanitarian grounds.
Dr Chishti had gone to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother where he was implicated in a murder case. After an 18-year-long trial, the octogenarian professor was awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Ajmer jail in January last year.
Dr Chisti has already been released by SC of India andsent to Pakistan. Why is Pakistan not releasing Sarabjit when he has completed his life sentence term?? On what grounds do you want to hold him??
Your law should either give him death penalty or release him as he has completed his sentence.
Well, its not Sarabjit Singh but its Surjeet Singh that Pakistan is releasing. Surjeet Singh was picked up from Indo-Pak border more than 30 years ago and was charged as spy during Zia ul Haqs regime. In jail for more than 30 years, Surjeet might be sent to India.
Yes, thats correct Its Surjeet Singh whose being released!
"Senator Farhatullah Babar confirmed that the Indian prisoner being released was Surjeet Singh, whose death penalty had been commuted to life term by former President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1989. His release orders were issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice since Surjeet had served his 22 year life term.
Surjeet Singh, alias Makhan Singh has been imprisoned since October 31, 1985 being convicted and sentenced to death under section 59-PAA by the commanding officer of the 106 Brigade Headquarter, Lahore Cantt. He had submitted his mercy petition before the chief of army staff which was rejected, but carried comments that the plea ought to be forwarded to the President of Pakistan.
The mercy petition was subsequently forwarded to then president of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan on December 24, 1985 but during the pendency of the mercy petition, a general amnesty to all condemned prisoners was granted."
Rangoli, if you follow the media coverage of the case before, you will see that it is the same person. Sarbajeet Singh was convicted of murder and put on death penality. His relatives claimed that his name is Surjeet Singh and he is a farmer who strayed. Pakistan denied this and said his name is Sarbajeet and he is an Indian spy involved in bomb blasts that killed 14 people. Its the same person whose identity is being debated.
ALLAH bla kray zardari ka. kaisay kaisay naik kaam kr reha hy. poori qoum in naik kamon ki weja se zardari ko din rat yad krti hy.
wsy meray khial main to islamic law k mutabiq khoon ki muafi sirf maqtool k wursa e de sktey hn. ye zardari kehan se tpk pra beech main.
Zardari ko aisay kamooN kay illawa aata kiya hay.... pura mulk corruption or power cuts key wajaah say tabah ho raha hay and main focus for zardari is to get this man released...
Rangoli, if you follow the media coverage of the case before, you will see that it is the same person. Sarbajeet Singh was convicted of murder and put on death penality. His relatives claimed that his name is Surjeet Singh and he is a farmer who strayed. Pakistan denied this and said his name is Sarbajeet and he is an Indian spy involved in bomb blasts that killed 14 people. Its the same person whose identity is being debated.
this is really confusing, because what I read was Surjit Singh is son of Sacha Singh and during Zia era he was captured near PAK-IND borders on charges of spying, he has been in Rawalpindi jail for almost 30 years, his death sentence was changed to life imprisonment. and now he has completed his term. hence, they are releasing him.
