Pak cites dead cricket fan to blank Sarabjit appeal

New Delhi: Though Sarabjit Singh’s hanging is slated for April 1, legal experts have suggested that a reprieve may be possible, even at such a late stage, but would require the intervention of the Indian Government. To that end, the government appears to have begun the process.

India has said it would discuss the case of Sarabjit Singh with the Pakistan government and will attempt to have the case reviewed. India is awaiting official intimation on the case.

But it may not be so easy.

Pakistan is now acting tough on the issue. Pakistan government sources say India reciprocated badly the last time they freed an Indian.

Sources in the Pakistan government had earlier complained that the release of Kashmir Singh after 35 years was a gesture of goodwill by Pakistan and that it was reciprocated badly by sending across the body of a Pakistani cricket fan.

Pakistan cited the case of Khalid Mehmood, who had come to India to watch a cricket match and had been held for spying. Later on, his body had been handed over to Pakistan authorities.

India has responded to the charge and said that the Pakistan government had been kept informed of the cricket fan, Khalid Mehmood's arrest, trial and subsequent death. Khalid had come to India on a cricket visa but was arrested with sensitive documents.

Khalid Mehmood had come to India on a cricket visa but was arrested with sensitive documents in his possession, India said.

Sources in Pakistan government also said that India has not been responding to continuous requests from Pakistan about the list of prisoners being held in Indian jails.

They have warned that President Pervez Musharraf would not wish to create a bad atmosphere in his country by releasing more Indian prisoners if India, on its own part, does not release Pakistanis. Musharraf would not win any brownie points from the newly-elected members of the National Assembly, either.

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Holding out a ray of hope for Sarabjit Singh, sources said his release might be looked into if India is ready to release prisoners. Till then, Sarabjit cannot be released and at most, his sentence can be reduced to a life term, they said.

Pakistan has not shown any inclination in the matter of handing over Sarabjit since he was convicted of four bomb attacks that killed 14 people in Lahore and Multan.

Meanwhile in Islamabad, Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney plans to file an appeal for a pardon and may meet Musharraf on Monday.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Burney had talked about the problems he may have to face to obtain Sarabjit’s release.

“There has been no reply from the Interior Ministry,” Burney said. “About the issue of the death warrant, we are not getting a good response from the Pakistani people.”

Burney said that he was working for “human rights, irrespective of whether the person is Indian or from Pakistan.”

“I will check and try my best to save his life if he is innocent,” Burney had promised.

Meanwhile, Sarabjit's family is meeting political leaders in Delhi on Monday to plead his case.

"Only hope is if both the governments work for a pardon on humanitarian grounds. Nobody else can do anything," Sarabjit's lawyer said.