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Burney to visit India to meet Sarabjit's kin

Leading rights activist, Ansar Burney, will meet Sarabjit's family next month to gather evidence they claim to have about his innocence.

Updated on: Mar 27, 2008 03:58 PM IST
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Leading rights activist Ansar Burney, who was the Human Rights Minister in Pakistan's caretaker government, will visit India next month to meet the family of Sarabjit Singh and gather any evidence about his innocence and to trace Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.

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HT Image

Burney said he would go to India on April 2 at the invitation of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

"I plan to meet Sarabjit's family and his sister Dalbir Kaur to gather evidence they claim to have regarding his innocence. This will make it easier for me to work for his case," Burney told PTI on Thursday.

"At the same time, I will also try and meet the Pakistani prisoners who are in Indian jails. Obviously I will also try and do whatever is possible for their release," he said.

President Pervez Musharraf had on March 19 deferred the hanging of Sarabjit, scheduled for April 1, by 30 days after receiving an appeal for clemency from the Indian government and the condemned man's family.

His family denies he is a spy as claimed by Pakistan and insists he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.

Earlier this week, Burney asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani to convert Sarabjit's death sentence into life imprisonment on humanitarian grounds.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar

Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music.

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.
Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.
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