Calling it the biggest shock of their lives,the family of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh,who has been in a Pakistani jail for 22 years,said they suspected larger events at play across the border may have forced Islamabad to change its mind on Tuesday about releasing him after announcing that he would be freed. Appealing to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari not to take back the gift he had given them,the family said Sarabjits freedom was critical to good relations between India and Pakistan. The dramatic events of Tuesday night had drained Sarabjits family after Pakistan announced that the Indian prisoner in Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail sentenced to death for his alleged role in bomb blasts - would be released after his sentence was commuted to life. Hours later though,it was clarified that it was not Sarabjit but another Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh who was being released. Sarabjits family in Punjab has been on a relentless campaign for his release claiming he is innocent. On Wednesday,Sarabjit sister Dalbir Kaur,his wife Sukhpreet Kaur,and their daughters Swapandeep and Poonam gathered at Swapandeeps house in Jalandhar to plan their next move. The daughters were visibly emotional and said Pakistan had played a cruel joke with their lives. Dalbir said she suspected Islamabad changed its mind after pressure from internal forces in Pakistan. Something happened in Pakistan after Sarabjits release was announced,which led the government to clarify that it was Surjeet who was being released to get out of a messy situation, Dalbir said. Although Sarabjits release had now been put on hold,the entire episode had given them hope that he would return home as he was innocent,she added. Dalbir also appealed to Zardari to not take back the gift he had given Sarabjits family and to all of India. Sarabjits release is very crucial to good relations and friendship between the two countries, she said. Dalbir said that Sarabjits lawyer in Pakistan,Awais Sheikh,had also told her on Tuesday evening that Sarabjit was indeed being released. She said she confirmed this information with officials in Pakistan,who told her that even Sarabjit had been given this news in jail. She also questioned why Sarabjit could not be freed while other Indian prisoners such as Roop Lal,Gopal Dass,Surjeet Singh and Kashmir Singh had been released even though they faced similar charges and had spent years in Pakistani jails. However,despite their joy turning to despair within hours,Sarabjits family was gracious enough to call the family of Surjeet and congratulate his relatives. At least another Indian is coming home and it is something to feel happy, Salbir said. Discussing their plan to pressure Pakistan,Dalbir said she would seek a visa to visit Pakistan and also try and meet External Affairs Minister SM Krishna,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to get them to lobby for Sarabjits freedom. She said she would also appeal to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former CM Amarinder Singh to use their influence to secure the release of Sarabjit.
