Pak govt not considering Sarabjit clemency

Sarabjit had been given the death sentence by a trial court and the verdict upheld by Lahore High Court and Supreme Court.

The issue of clemency for Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh is neither under consideration nor his mercy petition is pending with the Pakistan President,the government informed a court today.

The federal government’s position was conveyed to Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Chaudhry in a reply filed by Deputy Attorney General Nasim Kashmiri.

The Chief Justice was hearing a petition asking the court to restrain President Asif Ali Zardari from pardoning Sarabjit. The Chief Justice subsequently dismissed the petition filed by a lawyer named Ilamuddin Ghazi.

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Ghazi said Sarabjit had been given the death sentence by a trial court and the verdict had been upheld by the Lahore High Court and the Supreme Court.

He pointed out that even the former President Pervez Musharraf had dismissed his mercy petition.

The Chief Justice also dismissed a separate petition filed by Sarabjit’s lawyer seeking a medical check-up and treatment for him.

A report submitted on behalf of the Punjab Home Secretary rejected arguments by Awais Sheikh,the counsel for Sarabjit,that he was in need of medical treatment.

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The report maintained that Sarabjit was in good health and there was no need to get him medically examined at a hospital outside Kot Lakhpat Jail,where he is being held.

The report said Sheikh’s request to allow him to teach Sarabjit yoga in the jail was not “practicable”.

Sheikh was being allowed to meet Sarabjit according to jail rules and regulations,the report added.

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