Time runs out for Sarabjit, India asks Pak for mercy

SISTER ACT: After meeting Rahul Gandhi on Monday, Dalbir Kaur appealed to Sonia to save her brother.

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Keywords: Pakistan, Sarabjit Singh

New Delhi: As time runs out for Sarabjit Singh, his sister Dalbir Kaur is not giving up. After meeting Rahul Gandhi on Monday, she appealed to Sonia to save her brother.

Her appeals galvanised the politicians into action. BJP, CPM, Akalis, all jumped to Dalbir's side, asking the Government to intervene on Sarabjit's behalf.

Giving in to the demands, the Prime Minister told Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal his government had brought the case to Pakistan President Prevez Musharraf's notice and would use all its influence to save Sarabjit.

Parliament was told that India would no longer settle for leniency for Sarabjit. “We appeal to the government of Pakistan to treat Sarabjit Singh's case with clemency on humanitarian grounds,” said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

India also upped the diplomatic stakes. It told Pakistan's new government-in-making and Musharraf's inner circle in no uncertain terms that hanging Sarabjit would vitiate bilateral relations.

Pakistan has not indicated a positive response so far. Neither has it allowed Indian diplomats to meet Sarabjit.

But if public statements are anything to go by, Musharraf may not be as magnanimous with Sarabjit as he was with Kashmir Singh.

“There is a big difference between Kashmir Singh and Sarabjit Singh. Sarabjit Singh is accused of martyring many people here, and I have no sympathies with terrorists,” said Pak Minister For Human Rights, Ansar Burney.