Burney sees merit in Sarabjit kin story

Signalling what may be a softening of stance on the death penalty awarded to alleged Indian saboteur Sarabjit Singh, Pakistan's former federal human rights minister Ansar Burney said here on Friday that the man on death row in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail could well be a victim of mistaken identity.

In Chandigarh as part of a fourday visit to Punjab (India) on a personal invitation from chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the former minister said: "Prima facie his (Sarabjit's) case appears to be that of mistaken identity."

Mr Burney had travelled to Bhikiwind town shortly after his arrival on Wednesday evening, where Sarabjit's family gave him various documents, including a copy of the police first information report when the prisoner went missing some 18 years ago, his ration card, a copy of the voters' list, his bank passbook, driving licence and a video recording of Pakistani national Salim Shaukat, who had in an interview with a private TV network admitted that he was forced to give witness against Sarabjit.

Sarajit's older sister Dalbir Kaur, who sought the former minister's "protection" by tying a rakhi on his wrist, recounted in detail how her brother was in fact innocent and was paying for crimes allegedly commit ted by one Manjit Singh, whose was named in police files after the 1990 bomb attacks in Multan and Lahore.

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Sarabjit hanging April 1, family is in shock

Sarabjit Singh's distraught family members have been collectively huddled in constant prayer ever since they were told that officials at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail have received warrants to carry out his hanging early morning on April 1.

Sarabjit Singh, condemned to death for his alleged involvement in four bomb blasts in Pakistan in 1990, would be hanged on April 1.The death warrant had been received by the jail authorities.

Sarabjit was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed about 14 people. His family denies he was a spy as claimed by Pakistan, and insists that he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory.

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