Death row Indian prisoner detained in Pakistan, Sarabjit Singh is unlikely to be a beneficiary of Islamabad’s decision to commute all death sentences
ISLAMABAD:Death row Indian prisoner detained in Pakistan, Sarabjit Singh is unlikely to be a beneficiary of Islamabad’s decision to commute all death sentences to life imprisonment, as the relaxation is not meant for those convicted on terrorism, treason and spying charges.
Sarabjit Singh has been on death row in a Lahore jail for 18 years after being convicted for spying and involvement in bombings that killed 27 people in 1990.
Pakistani prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday announced that his government has recommended to the president to commute death sentences of thousands of prisoners into life imprisonment as part of a birthday tribute to the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. Subsequent media reports speculated that an immediate beneficiary of the decision would be Sarabjit Singh. However, it has now transpired that while it may bring respite for others, it will not bring any relief to Sarabjit since he is amongst those who have been condemned to death on terrorism and spying charges.
The Pakistani Constitution empowers the president to commute sentences. According to law ministry sources in Islamabad, prime minister Gilani’s recommendation for commutation of sentences to the president specifically mentions that the relaxation is not meant for those convicted on charges of terrorism, spying and treason as it would encourage negative elements in the society.
However, human rights activist Ansar Burney has announced that he would approach the presidency to ensure that the death sentence of Sarabjit is commuted, even if he is not released immediately.
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