Hope for Sarabjit, Musharraf may grant clemency

Islamabad, Mar 19: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf may accept New Delhi's request of clemency on humanitarian grounds for Sarabjit Singh, an Indian national on death row for carrying out multiple bomb explosions in the Islamic nation's Punjab province, in which 14 people were killed in 1990.

A Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) official said the President could consider pardoning Singh. ''If that happens, it will be purely on humanitarian grounds,'' the Nation quoted him as saying. The Indian government sought clemency for the prisoner yesterday. FO Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said the Indian request would be brought to the notice of the authority concerned, adding that it was difficult to say what would happen to the appeal.

Mr Musharraf rejected Singh's mercy petition early this month followed by issuance of his death warrants. Pakistani officials claim Singh is a terrorist, who operated in Pakistan with different names including that of Manjeet Singh. However, his family members say he is an innocent.

UNI