Date:24/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/24/stories/2008042457310100.htm

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With hope in their hearts, Sarabjit kin cross border

Nirupama Subramanian

The family plans to meet Pakistan leaders to appeal to them for Sarabjit’s life

— Photo: PTI

Seeking mercy: The family members of Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row in Pakistan, crossing the border at Attari on Wednesday. From left are Sarabjit’s wife Sukhpreet Kaur, sister Dalbir Kaur, and daughters Poonam and Swapandeep.

ISLAMABAD: Sarabjit Singh’s family crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan on Wednesday with a prayer on their lips and hope in their hearts that the government here will listen to their pleas and those of “crores of Indians” that his life be spared.

His sister, Dalbir Kaur, told The Hindu that the family had made a request for meeting Sarabjit in the Kot Lakhpat prison in Lahore, where he is being kept.

Dalbir is here with her husband, Sarabjit’s wife Sukhpreet Kaur and his daughters, 20-year-old Swapandeep and 18-year-old Poonam.

The family also wants to meet Pakistani leaders to appeal to them to save Sarabjit, whose hanging is fixed for May 1.

“We want to meet Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Gillani, President Musharraf. If they give us a few seconds each, that is sufficient for us to place our request at their feet,” said Dalbir Kaur.

The family, which has a seven-day visa to visit only Lahore and Nankana Sahib, is staying at the famous Dera Sahib gurudwara in Lahore.

Sarabjit’s sister said she was carrying letters from numerous Indian dignitaries appealing to the Pakistan government not to hang him. Among them are the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, the custodian of the Ajmer Sharif dargah, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani, and Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Deshpande.

“We have come here with a message from crores of Indians that we must close the distance between the people on the two sides, that we stand for friendship and love, and that Sarabjit can become a symbol of love between the two countries,” said Dalbir.

Sarabjit was convicted on charges of causing a string of bombings in Lahore, Faisalabad and Kasur. Both he and his family maintain he is innocent.