Badal for PM intervention to secure Sarabjit's release

Chandigarh, Mar 6 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene for securing clemency for Indian citizen Sarabjit Singh who is facing the death penalty in Pakistan for his alleged involvement in a bomb blast case.

Mr Badal's request comes in the wake of the rejection of the mercy petition of Sarabjit by Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf.

Mr Badal is likely to take up the matter with the Prime Minister when he meets him in New Delhi, Mr Harcharan Bains, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, said here.

The Chief Minister said it was most unfortunate that the mercy petition of Sarabjit had been rejected even after the goodwill generated by the repatriation of another Indian national, Kashmir Singh, who had also been sentenced to death on charges of spying.

Mr Badal hoped that a humanitarian view would be taken in the case of Sarabjit to further strengthen the process of renewed relationship and mutual goodwill besides cementing bonds of peace, friendship and harmony in the sub-continent.

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