Pranab Mukherjee appeals Pak Govt to take Sarabjit's case on humanitarian grounds

New Delhi, Mar 18 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday appealed to the Pakistan Government to treat Sarabjit Singh's case with clemency on humanitarian grounds

"We appeal to the Government of Pakistan to treat Sarabjit Singh's case with clemency on humanitarian grounds," Mukherjee said while giving suo motu statement on Sarabjit Singh in Lok Sabha.

The minister also recalled that the governments of both country "have put in place certain institutional arrangements, including a new Agreement on Consular Access and a joint Judicial Committee, in order to facilitate the resolution of consular issues."

Mukherjee also said that these initiatives might lead to an improvement of the situation for our prisoners.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has assured Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal that the Government of India is making all possible efforts to seek a reprieve for Sarabjit Singh.

According to media reports, the death warrant for Sarabjit was received by authorities at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore where he has been languishing for the last 17 years.

Sarabjit, who Pakistan claims is actually Manjit Singh, was sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in the bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people in 1991.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has rejected Sarabjit's mercy plea close on the heels of the release of Kashmir Singh, another death row prisoner who was recently released by Islamabad.

Pakistan's Supreme Court had also rejected Sarabjit's mercy petition in March 2006.

ANI