Pakistan on Monday handed over to Indian officials 36 items belonging to death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh,who died after a brutal attack inside a jail in April,and asked India to reciprocate by releasing fishermen and other prisoners.
We received the items. We are making arrangements for them to be sent back to India, a senior official of the Indian High Commission said.
In August,Indian officials had formally requested Pakistans Foreign Office to facilitate the return of Sarabjits belongings to his family. The administration of Kot Lakhpat Jail transferred his personal belongings to the Interior Ministry last month. The items include a copy of the Quran,three holy books in Hindi,a rosary,five sets of clothes,a sleeping mattress,a pitcher,a blanket and shoes. The move came after Sarabjits sister,Dalbir Kaur,requested Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to bring back his belongings.
We wish all the Indian prisoners well and request the Indian governments reciprocal spirit in releasing prisoners as the ones we have released far outnumber the ones released by Indian authorities, Interior Ministry spokesperson Omar Hameed Khan said.