Cutting across party lines,the Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously welcomed the release of Surjeet Singh,who returned home on Thursday after spending 31 years in a Pakistan jail,while urging the Centre to take initiatives for the early release of death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh languishing in a Lahore jail for 20 years. Leader of the House and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moved a resolution during the Zero Hour welcoming the release of Surjeet Singh,a resident of Phidde village in Ferozepur. I congratulate Surjeet and his family members,Badal said moving the resolution. He,however,urged the Centre to take steps to secure the release of Sarabjit Singh and said it would help in further improving the relations between Pakistan and India. He urged the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to take up the matter of release of Sarabjit Singh. By releasing all prisoners who had completed their jail term will definitely improve relations between the two nations,Badal said. Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Jakhar of Congress also supported Badals resolution and demanded that all prisoners who had completed their sentence and were languishing in different jails of Pakistan must be released for improving the ties between the two countries. Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh Sodhi also urged Badal to extend financial help to Surjeets family as their financial condition is bad. Assuring the House,Badal said that he would take up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner and would provide all possible help under the law. I am prepared to do my best for the Surjeets family,Badal said. Singh (69) was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail at Lahore on June 28. Surjeet Singh served a life term following his arrest on charges of spying in the 1980s. He was given death sentence under the Pakistan Army Act in 1985 which was commuted to life imprisonment in 1989 by the then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
