Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is on a death row for involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan in 1990, has signed a fresh mercy petition to be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Sarabjit’s lawyer Awais Sheikh met him at Kot Lakhpat Jail and got the fresh mercy petition signed.
In the letter addressed to the president, Sarabjit again sought mercy while referring to a recent meeting between former Indian external affairs minister SM Krishna and Zardari.
Sarbajit said: “After the release of (Pakistani prisoner) Pervez Khalil Chisti by the Indian government on humanitarian grounds, the people of India, especially my family, have pinned hopes on my release on the same ground.”
“I have been languishing in jail for the last 22 years. I beg you to revoke the capital punishment and let me spend the rest of my life with my family,” Sarabjit said.
Such an act of forgiveness was liked in Islam and God would reward the president for such an act, he said.
Sheikh said he had conveyed to Sarbajit messages from his family and told him in detail of his recent visit to India.
“Some eatables and other goods for daily use, including Rs 8,000, were delivered to him,” he said.
The lawyer said he got another letter addressed to the people and the government of India signed by Sarabjit.
The letter thanked the people for showing concern for his health and for urging the Pakistani government to provide him proper treatment.
“I am feeling better now,” Sarabjit was quoted as saying by his counsel. Sarabjit was convicted for involvement in a string of bombings in 1990 that killed 14 people.
His family says he is a farmer and a victim of mistaken identity.
Sarabjit’s relatives said he strayed into Pakistan in an inebriated state three months after the bombings.
Following the intervention of the Pakistan People’s Party-led government, Sarabjit’s execution was put off indefinitely.
