Advani to Pak: grant clemency to Sarabjit Singh

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani has urged Pakistan to grant clemency to Sarabjit Singh who is on a death row in that country. In his letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani on April 6, Advani has written, “I urge you to adopt a bold step and grant clemency to Sarabjit Singh… Such an act of magnanimity will win the goodwill of the Indian people, and buttress our common objective in South Asia — the pursuit of peace on the subcontinent.”

Pointing out that Sarabjit has already served 18 years in prison, Advani has referred to the claims made by Sarabjit’s family that his may be a case of mistaken identity and his sister Dalbir Kaur’s offer to conduct a DNA test to prove his innocence. Ansar Burney — responsible for Kashmir Singh’s release — reportedly remarked in Chandigarh that ‘prima facie’ evidence suggests that Sarabjit’s may be a case of mistaken identity. “If such a possibility exists, would it not be reasonable for Pakistani authorities to review its decision,” Advani has asked.

Curiously, the 11-day-old letter was released on Thursday, a day after Sarabjit’s family members got visas to travel to Pakistan and meet him.