More than two weeks after the “flip-flop” by the Pakistan government over his release, Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh has made a fresh appeal to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking mercy on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his alleged role in the 1990 bomb blasts in Pakistan.
In an email to Sarabjit’s daughter Swapandeep Kaur, lawyer Awais Sheikh said he had met Sarabjit in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on Thursday.
In May also Sarabjit had appealed for mercy. On Friday, Sheikh showed Sarabjit's latest letter to the Pakistan media, wherein Sarabjit said he had been on the death row for the past 22 years despite being innocent, and that people in both India and Pakistan believed his innocence.
Sarabjit said his appeal had been dismissed by the Pakistan SC for non-prosecution only because of lack of interest by his former lawyer. He added he had been condemned unheard. Sarabjit also said he had never confessed to any crime.
Sheikh said he had met his client for one hour on Thursday. He said this was the first meeting in which no representative of any intelligence agency was sitting in.
{{/usCountry}}Sheikh said he had met his client for one hour on Thursday. He said this was the first meeting in which no representative of any intelligence agency was sitting in.
{{/usCountry}}Sheikh quoted Sarabjit as saying that he was very disappointed and saddened when the recent news about his release turned out to be wrong.
Sheikh’s email to Swapandeep was forwarded to former Supreme Court chief justice Markandey Katju, who had strongly taken up the case of the release of Pakistan scientist Khalil Chishty from a Rajasthan jail recently. Justice Katju wrote back to Sheikh last night, saying the conviction of Sarabjit was “flawed” and demanded his immediate release.
(with agency inputs)