INDIA GRATEFUL TO PAK FOR PUTTING OFF SARABJIT'S HANGING
New Delhi March 22:
India expressed gratitude to Pakistan for putting off hanging of Sarabjit Singh but ruled out release of any prisoner by New Delhi in exchange for his freedom.
"...we are grateful that the Pakistan government has agreed to our request and put off the date of hanging to April 30," Sarabjit, facing death row for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Pakistan, was to be hanged on April 1 but it was deferred for a month after India appealed for clemency.
Mukherjee said India had pleaded on humanitarian grounds for Sarabjit's release as it had done in the past with other prisoners. To a question about releasing any Pakistani jail inmate in lieu of Sarabjit, Mukherjee said India will not agree to exchanging any prisoners.
On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the minister said the government has had no contact with him since February elections. "I do hope that the initiatives that have been taken so far and the way the composite dialogue has been going will be continued by the new government (in Pakistan)," he added.
Source : Punjab Mail Online
New Delhi March 22:
India expressed gratitude to Pakistan for putting off hanging of Sarabjit Singh but ruled out release of any prisoner by New Delhi in exchange for his freedom.
"...we are grateful that the Pakistan government has agreed to our request and put off the date of hanging to April 30," Sarabjit, facing death row for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Pakistan, was to be hanged on April 1 but it was deferred for a month after India appealed for clemency.
Mukherjee said India had pleaded on humanitarian grounds for Sarabjit's release as it had done in the past with other prisoners. To a question about releasing any Pakistani jail inmate in lieu of Sarabjit, Mukherjee said India will not agree to exchanging any prisoners.
On Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the minister said the government has had no contact with him since February elections. "I do hope that the initiatives that have been taken so far and the way the composite dialogue has been going will be continued by the new government (in Pakistan)," he added.
Source : Punjab Mail Online
