Congress hopes Sarabjit will get clemency

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The Congress today expressed the hope that the month-long stay in the execution of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national facing death sentence in Pakistan, would be transformed into clemency by President Pervez Musharraf.

Welcoming the stay of his execution till April 30, AICC Spokesman Manish Tewari said : "We hope and pray that the month-long reprieve granted to Sarabjit is transformed into permanent relief." Sarabjit Singh was to be hanged on April one for his alleged involvement in multiple bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan in 1990.

In March 2006, the Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected Sarabjit's plea for clemency.

President Musharraf rejected the mercy petition of Sarabjit on March 3 this year and his execution was fixed for April one.

Following pressure from the Indian government which sought clemency on "humanitarian grounds," Pakistan today granted a month-long stay to his execution.

UNI SH KD KN1748