BADAL SEEKS PM INTERVENTION TO SECURE - RELEASE OF SARABJIT SINGH

Chandigarh March 6, 2008

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today urged Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene with the Government of Pakistan for clemency to Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh who is at present facing death penalty in Pakistan for his alleged involvement in a bomb blast 1990. Mr. Badal's request comes in the wake of the rejection of the mercy petition of Mr. Sarabjit Singh by the Pakistan President General Parvez Musharaf.

Mr. Badal is likely to take up the matter with the Prime Minister when he meets the latter in New Delhi next, said Mr. Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister said that it was most unfortunate that the mercy petition of Sarabjit Singh had been rejected even after the good will generated by of the release and expatriation of another Indian National, Kashmir Singh, who had also been sentenced to death for alleged charges of spying. Mr. Badal hoped that a humanitarian view taken in the case of Sarabjit Singh would further strengthen the process of renewed relationship and mutual good will besides cementing the bonds of peace, friendship and harmony in the sub-continent. It may be recalled that Sarabjit's sister Dalbir Kaur has been spearheading a campaign in India for his release.