Midnight clarification comes after faux pas and animated talk shows in both countries
Five hours after the ‘Sarabjit Singh story’ hogged headlines and talk shows in both India and Pakistan, the Presidency said late on Tuesday night that it was not him but the much older Surjeet Singh whom Pakistan had decided to release.
The clarification came close to midnight (local time) amid growing criticism from right-wing organisations and in the media about the commutation of the death sentence of Sarabjit Singh, who had been arrested and convicted in 1991 for terror attacks in Faislabad and Lahore.
By this time, practically every prime time talk show had led with discussions on Sarabjit Singh whom a couple of anchorpersons compared to Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist nabbed alive in the Mumbai terror attacks case.
According to Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar, the person concerned is not Sarabjit Singh but Surjeet Singh, son of Sucha Singh. His death sentence was commuted in 1989 by the then President, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, on the advice of the Prime Minister of the day, Benazir Bhutto.
“Law Minister Farooq Naek today [on Tuesday] conveyed to [the] Interior Minister that Surjeet Singh has completed his life term in jail and ought to be released and sent back to India. Keeping him in jail any longer will be illegal confinement,” Mr. Babar said in a detailed text message sent out to all media personnel covering the Presidency.
The Presidency also sought to distance itself from the decision, with Mr. Babar adding that any reference to President Asif Ali Zardari in the decision was out of context. By the time the clarification came, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Jamaat-ud-Da’wah (JuD) condemned the President for the decision to release Sarabjit Singh, describing the move as shameful.
The JI Ameer, Syed Munawar Hasan, also pointed out that Kasab had been sentenced by India without any evidence, and Pakistan had not provided him legal aid. In a Twitter message, the JuD said: “Not a single demand for Samjhota terrorists & innocent Pakistanis in Indian jails, instead convicted terrorist Sarabjit allowed to live. Shame.”
According to Surjeet Singh’s lawyer Awais Sheikh, he was captured from near the India-Pakistan border in 1981 during the Zia-ul Haq regime. He was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life imprisonment, and his jail term ended in 2004. Surjeet Singh — a resident of Ferozepur — is now lodged in Punjab’s Kot Lakpat Jail, where Sarajbit Singh is also an inmate.
Earlier this year, the Punjab government informed the Lahore High Court that Surjeet Singh had completed his term and would be released. The court intervened in the matter after Mr. Sheikh – who also represents Sarabjit Singh and had filed a mercy petition on his behalf last month – moved the court for his release on the grounds that he had completed his term but was still languishing in prison seven years later.
Keywords: Surjeet Singh release, faux pas, Asif Ali Zardari, Indian prisoners, presidential pardon, Sarabjit Singh case
This is a grave error. The two Governments are playing with a life. Perhaps Pakistan wants lie low or take a revenge for the arrest of Zaibuddin lest it has take the responsibility for the 26/11 in India.
It is again evident that Pak govt. can't work against the will and wishes of religious organizations. I don't think Pak President office staff are so confused with names. My heart goes out to his family. Anyway release of surjeet from prison is good news to country. Now media may rush to both house and show the contrasting picture to the world. finally i was taken aback by JI statement that Kasab was arrested with out evidence!
This is just cruel.
The turn about by pakistani government shows who dictates the policies, its not the elected representatives but the armed forces and their proxies the various terrorists organisations.
Complete mockery of the Democracy. Citizens are being victimised by the political forces and we simply are turning a blind eye. The country which mistakes the identity of a person of such importance that too while being released to thier enemy state, proves that it has mistaken the identity of self. The country which is not sure of who their leader is, decides on the identity. How smirky is that. This is just a political drama to try counter Abu Zindals arrest. Let me remind Pakistan, We will not fall for this cheap game. You cannot compare Sarabjit and Kasab or Abu's case.
All absurd. All went wild without first confirming. Even Burney talked big on the TV. Krishna thanked the Pak Pres. Could he not have confirmed first ? Now it is all back to square one.
When the announcement came from Pakistan that Sarabjit Singh's death sentence has been commuted by President Asif Ali Zardari to life sentence, his family in particular and India in general heaved a sigh of relief. But clarification from a Presidential spokesperson has put that it is Surjeet Singh and not Sarabjit Singh who is going to be released after 30 years of incarceration in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. Release of Surjeet Singh is also good news. But Pakistan's faux pas on the matter of release of Sarabjit Singh is rather disturbing. Union External Minister S.M. Krishna had lost no time to thank the Pakistan government for its 'decision' to release Sarabjit. And the family members of Sarabjit were jubilant at the announcement of his release after 22 years of detention in jail. Announcement of release and then making a U turn on the decision on any pretext is more disappointing, disturbing and painful than not taking a decision to release. Pakistan must realize the pain inflicted by it intentionally or unintentionally on the family members hoping the release of Sarabjit. Now the family members are left with the hope of release after 30 years only like in the case of Surjeet. It may be recalled, Pakistan was told that Sarabjit was arrested on a mistaken identity. Unfortunately, the authorities there are not willing to listen. The Government of India should take up the issue with all seriousness to ensure the release of Sarabjit along with Surjeet.
Another back flip from the spin doctors of Pakistan !
The entire state is a sham. He was being illegally confined even after expiry of his term in 2010. Twenty years and more in prison for just straying across the border. When will India learn ?
This is an effort to deflect the bad press and embarrassment generating out of Zabiuddin's arrest recently. This is what a democratic set-up can understand and deal with that a military regime will have no clue about. I hope Indian media continues to shine the spotlight on Zabiuddin, till Pakistan takes full responsibility for 26\11.
Good news. Well done Mr. Zardari. You have made Indians stop for a minute and think...it can happen in Pakistan too. Way to go...Mubarak ho.
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