Sarabjit’s kin stage protests,meet Krishna

Hours after reports emerged on Tuesday that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit,Presidential spokesman Faratullah Babar had said it was not Sarabjit but another Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh,who will be released.

Saying that the family cannot express in words the pain they have suffered,Dalbir added: “I cannot express the pain we have suffered. I don’t think this should have happened. After the cruel joke they have played,isn’t it necessary for Pakistan to improve its image to release Sarabjit immediately? Kaur said while addressing the media. Dalbir added that she was appealing to the Pakistan government to release Sarabjit for the sake of humanity.

“I am assured that the issue of release of Sarabjit will be raised during the Indo-Pak meetings. I am feeling good that the government is showing concern and I trust them that they will support us. The minister told me that we won’t leave Sarabjit in Pakistan at any cost,” she added.

Later in the day,Sarabjit’s family staged a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Sarabjit’s daughter Poonam said: “We contacted many people in India and Pakistan for his release. We have much hope from the government in India. We expect External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to take a strong stand on the issue. I am sure then Pakistan will certainly accept it,” she said.

The family will try to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to press for their demand,she added.

Pak President’s effigy burnt for not releasing Sarabjit

Indore: Indore district Congress on Thursday burnt the Pakistani President’s effigy demanding the release of Sarabjit Singh,the death row prisoner in Pakistan,the police said. Pakistan government’s U-turn on releasing Sarabjit has hurt the sentiments of every Indian citizen,said Congressmen Vinod Pawar,Vivek Khandelwal and Rajesh Chaurasia,at Rajbada here while buring the effigy after shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. The protest was peaceful,the police said.

Kairon demands Sarabjit’s release

Chandigarh: Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon on Thursday termed the release of Surjeet Singh a “good gesture” by Pakistan and demanded the early release of death row convict Sarabjit Singh. In a press communiqué,he said Pakistan should consider the cases of Sarbjit and prisoners of war and they should be released on humanitarian grounds. He said all Indian prisoners,who had completed their sentence and are in jail,must be set free. Kairon appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter of Sarabjit with Pakistan and to ensure early release of all Indian prisoners lodged in various jails of that country.