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Journalism of Courage
Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney has approached the Punjab rights panel seeking release of a man from that country who is detained in the state’s Sangrur Jail.
A two-member bench of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission comprising R S Mongia and K K Bhatnagar called for a report from the state government after receiving an e-mail from Burney requesting for the early release of Muhammad Usman Sheikh (Abdul Samad Askari).
Burney, who played a key role in securing the release of Indian prisoner Kashmir Singh and is making efforts for the release of Sarabjit Singh and others, said the Supreme Court of India has already dismissed Sheikh’s case and declared him innocent.
“We will appreciate if you may please ask the authorities concerned to release him and hand him over to (the) Ansar Burney Trust for his return and rehabilitation in Pakistan,” Burney wrote.
The Commission has asked the Punjab government to find out if there are any legal impediments in releasing Sheikh. The Commission will hear the matter on July four and sent copies of its orders and Burney’s email to the government and also Chandigarh.
