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India reiterates request for Sarabjit’s release

ISLAMABAD: On the first day of talks between the Indian and Pakistani Home Secretaries here on Tuesday, the Indian side reiterated its request that death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who has been languishing in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail for 18 years, be freed.

“The request was made keeping in view the public sentiment on this issue in India,” said an Indian official knowledgeable about the talks.

He said the Pakistan side “did not give any direct responses,” but added that the Indian government remained hopeful of a positive development on that front.

The Pakistan government had decided to carry out the death sentence to Sarabjit in April this year, but after hectic diplomatic efforts by India, put it off indefinitely. The government later announced its intention to commute all death sentences into life terms, significantly improving Sarabjit’s chances of being released.

The 42-year-old Sarabjit was convicted by Pakistani courts of terrorism and spying and sentenced to death. The Pakistan Supreme Court upheld the death sentence despite Sarabjit’s plea of innocence.

Tuesday’s talks between Indian Home secretary Madhukar Gupta and Pakistan Interior Secretary Kamal Shah also discussed issues pertaining to the hundreds of other prisoners from both countries in each other’s jails.

The two officials, who are meeting as part of the composite dialogue process, also discussed the proposed liberalisation of the visa regime between the two countries.

Mr. Gupta led an eight-member delegation that included officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Narcotics Control Bureau.

The two sides initialled a memorandum of understanding on “drug demand reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs/psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals and related matters.”

A press release issued by the Union Home Ministry said the MoU, which was to be signed at a later stage, “will further strengthen bilateral cooperation in this field.”

Pakistan did not bring up any matter relating to the ongoing investigation by India into the Samjhauta Express firebombing, the official said.

The issue of the January 2009 cricket tour of Pakistan by India also did not come up at the meeting.

But separately, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt met Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal on Tuesday. The two discussed the tour, whose fate appears uncertain on account of security fears. Mr. Butt is said to have given the assurance that Pakistan would provide fool-proof security for the visitors.

The Home Secretaries will continue their talks on Wednesday, after which the two sides will issue a joint press release. The Indian delegation will also call on Rehman Malik, who heads the Interior Ministry.

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