Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-M

(a) whether the Government has recently taken up the issue of Indian citizen Shri Sarabjit Singh’s release with Government of Pakistan;

(b) if so, the details thereof, including the progress made so far; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) to (c) Government has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan, on several occasions, to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view in the case of Shri Sarabjit Singh. The matter was recently discussed at the Home/Interior Secretary level talks in Islamabad on May 24-25, 2012, during the Foreign Secretary level talks in New Delhi on July 4-5, 2012, during the meeting of External Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan on July 8, 2012 in Tokyo, and in their meeting in Islamabad on September 8, 2012, and by Home Minister in his talks with the Pakistan Interior Minister in New Delhi on December 14, 2012.

According to available reports, Shri Sarabjit Singh is in Pakistani Jail since 30.08.1990. The Anti-Terrorism Court, Lahore awarded him capital punishment on 3.10.1991. The Supreme Court of Pakistan upheld the sentence on 18.8.2005. A mercy petition to the President of Pakistan, filed in 2008, was dismissed on 19.2.2008. According to Shri Sarabjit Singh’s lawyer, Shri Sarabjit Singh alias Manjit Singh had filed a fresh mercy petition before the President of Pakistan on 19.2.2010. Another mercy petition was also filed by his lawyer before the President of Pakistan on 18.6.2010.

http://164.100.47.4/newrsquestion/ShowQn.aspx.

Pakistan
South Asia