Bitta for third party involvement in Indo-Pak talks

Jalandhar, Apr 5 (UNI) All India Anti-Terrorist Front Chairman Maninderjit Singh Bitta today advocated government-sponosered welfare for terrorist-hit families including civilians, para-military forces and defence personnel.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Bitta said that instead of paying one-time compensation to the victims' family, the government should take responsibility for the rehabilitation of these families.

He said in this regard he would file a PIL in the Delhi High Court for providing free education with employment to the wards of those who fell victim to terrorists' bullets across the country.

He said that a seperate department is required to deal with such cases.

Mr Bitta also called upon the Pakistan government to commute the death sentence awarded to Sarabjit Singh, who had been in Pakistan jail for the last 18 years for alleged involvements in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan in 1990.

Sarabjit was scheduled to be hanged on April 1 but President Musharraf on the clemency appeal of the Indian Government and his family members, deferred the hanging to April 30.

UNI DP JN BP1917