Fresh death warrant for Sarabjit

ISLAMABAD: Indian national Sarabjit Singh’s fate seems to have been sealed as Pakistani authorities have issued a fresh warrant to hang him on May 1 at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.

According to Rana Abdul Hameed, Sarabjit’s lawyer, who is now the additional advocate general of Punjab, the black warrant was issued on Thursday, directing the jail superintendent to carry out the execution.  

He said the execution was only postponed for a month on the request of the Indian government. It now appears the Pakistani authorities had decided to execute him despite repeated requests by his family for a pardon. His relatives have got visa to travel there.

Rana said the Pakistan President had already rejected Sarabjit’s mercy plea and there was no other remedy available if Pervez Musharraf had decided not to entertain India’s request. 

Sarabjit he should blame his plight on the indiscreet remarks of Kashmir Singh,  Rana said, referring to the convicted Indian spy released earlier by Pakistani authorities who, once safe home in India, disclosed that he had indeed been a spy.

Many in Pakistan, including Rana, believe Kashmir’s revelation has sealed the fate of all Indian prisoners who had hoped to be freed.

Sarabjit Singh, who is known as Manjit Singh in Pakistan, has been held guilty of bombings in Lahore and Multan in 1990 that left 14 people dead and was to be hanged on March 31. However, the intervention of the Indian government led to the execution being postponed by a month by President Musharraf.