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Journalism of Courage
Even as Sarabjit Singh’s family is going to visit him in the next couple of days, India today made a fresh appeal to Pakistan to show mercy to the “unfortunate human being” on humanitarian grounds. Singh is due to be hanged on May 1.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today hoped clemency would be shown to Sarabjit.
“I would appeal to the authorities in Pakistan to show clemency to Sarabjit Singh,” Mukherjee said, in a statement to the media, today.
“Whatever the legal position may be, on humanitarian grounds alone, I would hope that mercy could be shown to this unfortunate human being,” he said.
Sarabjit was sentenced to death in connection with 1990 bomb blasts in Lahore and was to be hanged on April 1. The hanging was, however, put off by a month after India made an appeal to Pakistan.
The fresh appeal came as Indian authorities in Pakistan established contact with Pakistan’s new government and were hopeful that clemency will be given to him.
Sarabjit’s family has been insisting that Sarabjit’s was a case of mistaken identity and he should be granted clemency.
Sarabjit’s family members are expected to travel to Pakistan on Sunday, to appeal to Pakistani leaders to grant him clemency.
