Pakistan confirms India sought clemency for Sarabjit

Islamabad, Mar 18 (UNI) Pakistan today confirmed that the Indian government had sought clemency for Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national sentenced to death for carrying out multiple bomb explosions in the country's Punjab province, in which 14 people were killed.

''The Indian Government has approached the Government of Pakistan seeking clemency for Mr Sarabjit Singh alias Manjit Singh,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said in a statement here this evening.

He said the Foreign Ministry was bringing the request to the notice of the authorities concerned.

President Pervez Musharraf rejected Singh's mercy petition early this month followed by issuance of his death warrants. His hanging has now been fixed for April 1.

''He would be hanged on the exact date (April 1) and there would be no delay in his hanging,'' Interior Ministry Spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema told a weekly media briefing earlier today.

Pakistani officials claim Singh is a terrorist, who operated in Pakistan with different names including that of Manjeet Singh.

However, his family members say that he is innocent.

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