ID :
22996
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 09:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22996
The shortlink copeid
Pak law minister to examine Sarabjit's case
Lahore, Oct 6 (PTI) Pakistan Law Minister Farooq Naek Monday said he would examine Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh's case, but at the same time requested New Delhi to consider repatriating Pakistani prisoners to their country on "humanitarian" grounds.
Naek who met Sarabjit -- now in jail for 17 years --
at the Kot Lakhpat prison here, said he had sought Sarabjit's
file from the jail superintendent so that he could study the
Indian national's case.
The Supreme Court had dismissed Sarabjit's mercy
petition.
"After the Supreme Court's decision, only the
President has the powers under article 45 of the constitution
to pardon or remit his sentence. No one else can do this,"
Naek told reporters outside the prison.
"In this connection, as a reciprocity, I request
Indian authorities to consider the cases of Pakistani
prisoners on humanitarian basis and repatriate them to
Pakistan," he said.
Naek said Sarabjit was "hale and hearty and getting
all the facilities which the other prisoners in this prison
are entitled to".
He said India has provided a list of over 100
Pakistani prisoners lodged in its jails.
"I will take up the issue and ask Indian authorities
to send them back to Pakistan. The Pakistan People's Party
government will take up their cases so that they can return to
their near and dear ones," he added.
Asked if Sarabjit would be released if India freed the
Pakistani prisoners, Naek replied: "I don't have these powers.
I can only study (Sarabjit's) case and submit a recommendation
and a report on humanitarian grounds. The final decision will
be made by the Prime Minister and the President."
Naek said the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from
India would lead to the "promotion of human rights, peace and
love" between the two countries.
He said "it would be a good action on the part of
India if it expatriates Pakistani prisoners and their trail
can take place in Pakistan. Or if they are convicted, they can
serve their sentence here because they can be with their dear
ones and family members."
Asked whether Sarabjit, convicted for alleged
involvement in bombings, should be freed at a time when
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of bomb attacks, Naek said,
"Bomb attacks have their own place and humanitarian
considerations have their own place.
"No final decision has been made. Let us see what
happens. We will consider this issue calmly and with a cool
head."
Sarabjit, whom Pakistani authorities say is Manjit
Singh, has been on death row since he was convicted for
alleged involvement in four bomb attacks that killed 14 people
in Punjab province in 1990. Sarabjit's family insists that he
was wrongly convicted for the attacks.
Sarabjit was originally set to be hanged on April 1
and his execution was initially deferred for 30 days by former
President Pervez Musharraf. This was done so that the new
P.P.P.-led government could review his case following India's
appeal for clemency.
Pakistan's Supreme Court and Musharraf had earlier
turned down Sarabjit's mercy petitions.
After Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani intervened in
the matter, Pakistani authorities put off Sarabjit's execution
"till further orders".
Gilani announced a proposal to commute the death
sentences of thousands of prisoners into life imprisonment on
June 21 to mark the birth anniversary of slain P.P.P.
chairperson Benazir Bhutto but it is still not clear if the
move will benefit Sarabjit.
In August, the government informed the Supreme Court
that it is yet to take a final decision on the proposal to
commute death sentences.
Naek said the law ministry is working on a law to
commute death sentences to life imprisonment in keeping with
the Prime Minister's announcement.
"Most people want the death sentence to be abolished.
The Prime Minister said in the National Assembly that the
death sentence will be abolished. The President has also
backed the move and wants the law on this to be made as soon
as possible," he said.
This draft law is being prepared by the law ministry
in line with the constitution and Shariat or Islamic law. Once
the draft is finalised, it will be presented to the cabinet
before being sent to parliament, which will make a final
decision on it, he said. PTI RHL
Naek who met Sarabjit -- now in jail for 17 years --
at the Kot Lakhpat prison here, said he had sought Sarabjit's
file from the jail superintendent so that he could study the
Indian national's case.
The Supreme Court had dismissed Sarabjit's mercy
petition.
"After the Supreme Court's decision, only the
President has the powers under article 45 of the constitution
to pardon or remit his sentence. No one else can do this,"
Naek told reporters outside the prison.
"In this connection, as a reciprocity, I request
Indian authorities to consider the cases of Pakistani
prisoners on humanitarian basis and repatriate them to
Pakistan," he said.
Naek said Sarabjit was "hale and hearty and getting
all the facilities which the other prisoners in this prison
are entitled to".
He said India has provided a list of over 100
Pakistani prisoners lodged in its jails.
"I will take up the issue and ask Indian authorities
to send them back to Pakistan. The Pakistan People's Party
government will take up their cases so that they can return to
their near and dear ones," he added.
Asked if Sarabjit would be released if India freed the
Pakistani prisoners, Naek replied: "I don't have these powers.
I can only study (Sarabjit's) case and submit a recommendation
and a report on humanitarian grounds. The final decision will
be made by the Prime Minister and the President."
Naek said the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from
India would lead to the "promotion of human rights, peace and
love" between the two countries.
He said "it would be a good action on the part of
India if it expatriates Pakistani prisoners and their trail
can take place in Pakistan. Or if they are convicted, they can
serve their sentence here because they can be with their dear
ones and family members."
Asked whether Sarabjit, convicted for alleged
involvement in bombings, should be freed at a time when
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of bomb attacks, Naek said,
"Bomb attacks have their own place and humanitarian
considerations have their own place.
"No final decision has been made. Let us see what
happens. We will consider this issue calmly and with a cool
head."
Sarabjit, whom Pakistani authorities say is Manjit
Singh, has been on death row since he was convicted for
alleged involvement in four bomb attacks that killed 14 people
in Punjab province in 1990. Sarabjit's family insists that he
was wrongly convicted for the attacks.
Sarabjit was originally set to be hanged on April 1
and his execution was initially deferred for 30 days by former
President Pervez Musharraf. This was done so that the new
P.P.P.-led government could review his case following India's
appeal for clemency.
Pakistan's Supreme Court and Musharraf had earlier
turned down Sarabjit's mercy petitions.
After Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani intervened in
the matter, Pakistani authorities put off Sarabjit's execution
"till further orders".
Gilani announced a proposal to commute the death
sentences of thousands of prisoners into life imprisonment on
June 21 to mark the birth anniversary of slain P.P.P.
chairperson Benazir Bhutto but it is still not clear if the
move will benefit Sarabjit.
In August, the government informed the Supreme Court
that it is yet to take a final decision on the proposal to
commute death sentences.
Naek said the law ministry is working on a law to
commute death sentences to life imprisonment in keeping with
the Prime Minister's announcement.
"Most people want the death sentence to be abolished.
The Prime Minister said in the National Assembly that the
death sentence will be abolished. The President has also
backed the move and wants the law on this to be made as soon
as possible," he said.
This draft law is being prepared by the law ministry
in line with the constitution and Shariat or Islamic law. Once
the draft is finalised, it will be presented to the cabinet
before being sent to parliament, which will make a final
decision on it, he said. PTI RHL
