Date:12/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/12/stories/2005091212540100.htm

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Another twist to Sarabjit Singh case

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: In yet another twist to the Sarabjit Singh's case, the state run Pakistan Television (PTV) on Saturday night telecast a clipping purported to be his confessional statement on involvement in bomb blasts in the country 15 years ago.

However Sarabjit's lawyer Rana Abdul Hamid expressed surprise over the clipping.

He said it (the clipping) was not part of the court records and would have no bearing on the case.

The Pakistan Supreme Court last month upheld the death sentence of Sarabjit for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts as a RAW agent.

His lawyer is waiting for the detailed judgement of the apex court to file a review petition.

PTV telecast the clipping in the course of a current affairs programme aired on one of its channels.

It was immediately not clear if the clipping was a recording by the PTV or provided by some government agency.

Observers here are intrigued as to how PTV got hold the clipping and why it chose to air it at this juncture. Sarabjit is lodged in a high-security jail on the outskirts of Lahore.

`Representation made'

PTI reports from Paris:

India has made ``appropriate representation'' to Pakistan about Sarabjit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday.

``We have been in touch with the Pakistan Government and appropriate representation has been made,'' Dr. Singh said onboard the special Air India flight that flew him to the French capital en route to the U.S.

His comments had been sought on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's statement that Sarabjit had killed innocent people and that he would have to look into all legal aspects relating to the case. — PTI