India wants Pakistan to release Sarabjit Singh

NEW DELHI: India has appealed to Pakistan to release Sarabjit Singh on “sympathetic and humanitarian” grounds, so the prisoner, critically injured following an attack inside a prison, can be transferred and treated here.

Singh has been on death row in Pakistan for 22 years, having been convicted in 1990 on charges of spying and terrorism. Singh and his family maintain that it is a case of mistaken identity and he had strayed across the border by mistake. He was attacked in Lahore’s Kot Kakhpat jail last week and has been hospitalised with critical injuries.

“In view of the recent tragic events and present circumstances, we once again appeal to Pakistan to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view of this case, and release Sarabjit Singh,” the external affairs ministry said. His condition, as per the latest medical bulletin, stays critical.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that the attack on the prisoner was “a very sad development”. Officials of the Indian High Commission are in touch with doctors at Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital and will consider the option of moving Sarabjit to India and treat him here, the MEA statement said.

The government has also demanded that Pakistan investigate the attack and punish the perpetrators. On Sunday, Sarabjit’s family members reached Pakistan.