Cong hopes Zardari will take humanitarian view of Sarabjit

Congress hoped Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari would assess from a 'humanitarian angle' the case of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh whose capital punishment has been upheld by the Supreme Court of that country.

Congress on Wednesday hoped Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari would assess from a "humanitarian angle" the case of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh whose capital punishment has been upheld by the Supreme Court of that country.

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"Congress and the Government of India have held that Pakistan should see this from a humanitarian angle. We hope the Pakistan government and the President would keep this aspect in mind and release him," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Asked whether it was a diplomatic failure of Indian government as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not raise the issue with Zardari during his recent meeting in Russia, Tewari said this observation is not correct.

"The MEA has taken up the issue proactively. Former External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has taken it up...Government of India is engaged with Pakistan government on this," he remarked.

To a query if Congress and the government considered Sarabjit innocent as his family has been saying, Tewari said "we have no reasons to disbelieve what Sarabjit's relatives are saying".

The family of Sarabjit today pleaded with the government to work with Islamabad for his release, saying he is "innocent".

The only ray of hope for Sarabjit is now a pardon from Zardari.