M A I N   N E W S

Pak SC upholds death sentence to Sarbjit
His family seeks Kalam’s help
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 9
Even as the Double Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has upheld the death sentence of Sarbjit Singh, alias Manjit Singh, his wife Sukhpreet Kaur
and sister Dalbir Kaur today sought immediate intervention of the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to save him as he is a victim of mistaken identity.

On September 28 last year, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had rejected the petition filed by Sarbjit Singh, against the decision of the Lahore High Court and Anti-Terror Court in the Delhi Gate bomb blast case.

The family members hoped that good sense would prevail upon Gen Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, to save the life of the innocent Indian.

The Supreme Court has already upheld the Lahore High Court and verdicts in the three cases of four bomb blasts. Rana Abdul Hamid, counsel for Sarbjit Singh, had filed the review petition before the SC. A Canadian human rights group has hired the services of a Pakistan lawyer.

Now the family members of Sarbjit want the Indian Government to use its clout to reverse the death sentence.

While Sarbjit Singh had crossed over to Pakistan in an inebriated condition in 1990, the Government of Pakistan had dubbed him as an agent of the Indian spy agency - Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He had been allegedly assigned by RAW to carry out a series of bomb blasts in the 1990s. It was alleged that he had blasted a number of bombs that killed 14 innocent persons and injured some 90 persons in various cities in 1990.

Besides the appeal for clemency to the President of Pakistan, Rana Hamid wants to avail the last legal option for the release of his client.

Mr Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Mr Justice Syed Ashhad heard the case of Sarbjit’s involvement in the Yaki Gate Lahore police station bomb blast.

The SC said the decision of the fourth case against Sarbjit’s Singh was taken on merit.

Sarbjit’s lawyer said his client could not find an opportunity to file plea with the court within a fixed time.

He appealed to court to forward the fourth case to those judges who had earlier taken decision on three cases against him (Sarbjit).

Meanwhile, Rana Abdul Hameed, the lawyer of Sarbjit Singh, claimed that he (Sarbjit) had no concern with blasts in Pakistan.